digoxin

[Andy-f]

Hi

Does anyone take this medication

What’s it use, is it any good

Thanks

Andy

[BobD Volunteer]

It is used to control arrhythmias such as Atrial Fibrillation and help heart failure allied to other drugs. Sorry not taken it so can't comment on your last question.

[CDreamer]

Ask not whether ‘it’s any good” but rather might it work for you.

It’s the oldest, most tried and tested medication in the med arsenal and seems to be making a comeback in the last few years. I’ve never taken it but from what I have read and going by other people’s experiences, it can depend upon getting the dose right for you and how you tolerate it.

[Hidden]

Hi Andy, I was put on it for a short period soon after I was diagnosed with lone persistent AF mid 2014. It raised a few eyebrows at the time because apparently, it had fallen out of favour as an arrhythmia drug for some while. After diagnosis, my rate became fairly high and although I was on a combination of 3.75 Bisoprolol and 120 Diltiazem, the rate remained high and my Cardiologist was keen to reduce the rate prior to having a cardioversion. Soon after taking it, I developed some very large red spots on my thigh so he took me off the Digoxin but in fairness, with that cocktail of drugs, it would be impossible to which was causing what!

In the event, the CV was successful so after, I only took Diltiazem. During the period of taking the 3 drugs, I was very breathless but I guess that’s hardly surprising.

I doubt this will help you much I thought I’d share it with you…….

[Andy-f]

Thanks all for posting

Like CDreamer basically says don’t knock it till you have tried it

Also some older medications get forgotten

Andy

[P0rtnahapp1e in reply to Andy-f]

I was on Digoxin for a couple of years, but was taken off it for a short time while my consultant tried to find which of my many meds was causing side effects, but was put back on it when my lightheadedness got much worse, and my original problem, diarrhoea, didn’t improve. Never did actually, I just live with it. Definitely connected to my heart rate but it’s chicken and egg, and I suspect vagus related, but no one seems to know how to solve it.

[pottypete1]

For you flower lovers out there Digoxin is derived from Foxgloves. Very poisonous in its raw state.

Can’t comment re Digoxin as a medicine for AF I was first on Sotolol and very soon switched 30 years ago onto Flecainide and I still take Flecainide.

Pete

[Bawdy in reply to pottypete1]

I know that digoxin is derived from foxgloves, I'm 77 and my Mum was on it for years until she died at aged 50. I think the only heart medication she was on, maybe it was the only one available. My husband has been taking it now for several years and seems to have no complaints about it.

[Andy-f]

PeteGood to see it works for you

Andy

[jeanjeannie50]

I took Digoxin for a short while and it made me feel as though I was going mad. I felt I was in a daze, forgetful and weepy. Would never take it again, but then I have a friend who says it keeps her heart in rhythm and she has nothing but praise for the drug.

Jean

[Andy-f]

Sorry to hear that But on a positive note good for your friend

Andy

[Sweptaway]

Hi Andy, I took digoxin for 3 weeks and I gradually had more and more bad side effects. I too felt I was going mad with hallucinations, depression and nightmares. My doctors face fell when he saw me after two weeks. It took about another three weeks to get out of my system during which I had unquenchable thirsts, four pints of water was normal. It really set me back as I was not long diagnosed. D.

[Foxglo]

It didn’t suit me because a tiny dose it raised my heart. I was put on it by mistake after Bisoprolol stopped because of Asthma, my Cardiologist thought I was allergic to Diltiazem by mistake. I was taking Flecainide so it was the second medication. I ended up on Diltiazem which was fir me a huge improvement. For me it is essential to stick to the same brands if both of these medications to avoid change over problems. We all react differently with different drugs.

[Leeson]

I have taken it for years along with aratac, have had no reaction from djoxin, get sunburnt easier with aratac, have had two ablations, didnt work so stick to my tablets, have tried other tablets but no good

[gokf]

I was in hospital a month short with Tachycardia at 170. Initially I was given 800 Amiodarone which didn't touch the Tachycardia and then I was given one dose of 500 Digoxin. Within an hour I was back in normal sinus rhythm. I had a pacemaker fitted and now waiting for an ablation. I have had a couple of blips and taken Digoxin as a pill in the pocket. For me it works when nothing else does. Good luck.

[DevonHubby1]

Wife was given it in hospital when her fast paroxymal AF would not revert. After a week in hospital, 2 in AF, they declared her AF was now permanent, discharged her, and Digoxin was to continue to be taken. She self reverted whilst the Dr's were writing up her notes. At her 3 month follow up Digoxin was removed as Dr said it was only for permanent AF. During the 3 months she was on it she coped well and it did not give her any obvious side effects.

[Silvasava]

I have AF and went into A&E as I was feeling so rough, I was put on Digoxin about a year ago and do not seem to have any side effects. My understanding is that the drug helps the heart muscle have a stronger beat.

[Ppiman]

It was the only medication that successfully stopped my atrial flutter induced tachycardia. For my heart I suspect it was a wonder drug, although I can't say that I felt much better for it. It took my ablation for that.

Steve

[Crystalbowl]

I have been taking 62.5 mcg Digoxin daily since November 2019 when I had a CRT-p (Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy pacemaker) implanted. Can’t really say what my experience of it has been as I also take a lot of other meds for my heart plus the pacemaker all contributing to keeping me alive but I don’t know how to know what causes what side effects. My main issues are poor circulation and breathlessness. As far as I know, I am in persistent AF and moderate HF but have not seen any medics for a while. My mother also took Digoxin for years for AF and died of HF and kidney failure but she was 87 so maybe I have a bit to go yet as I just clocked up 75 last week. Someone on here recently mentioned the book “The AFib Cure” by Dr John D Day MD and T Jared Bunch MD - both American Cardiologists. It was only published this year but although I haven’t finished reading it yet, I wish I had had this book 10 years’ ago. I have learned a lot from this site but there is always more to learn about these amazing things we call bodies.

[CakeMaker70]

I've been using it alongside Bisoprolol to help control atrial flutter. Before being prescribed it I was suffering tachycardic fluttery episodes pretty much on and off throughout the day on a daily basis - a rough time to say the least. The digoxin calmed it right down and my quality of life improved. Not sure how it works but needless to say that I'm just grateful it does!

[Usta]

Hi Andy,I have been taking .25mg of Digoxin (Lanoxin) daily for the past several months after finding that sotalol and tikosyn caused unacceptable cardio effects. For me, it was prescribed as as antiarrythmia med. I'm not a pharmacist, but from what I have learned, it is an older med. that has been around for several years, but is suitable only for a smaller subset of patients .

That said, I had an ablation 6 weeks ago to correct a flutter and am scheduled for a follow-up consult with my E.P. July 13 and hoping to stop the digoxin and Eliquis (anticoagulant) ...so, we will see.

Hope this was helpful.

[Snowgirl65]

I took it for about 8 months to control my irregular heartbeat. I had no problems with it. I was switched to other medication when I changed EPs, and later had an ablation.

[Jetcat]

I was placed on it after been diagnosed with lone af. But after just a few hours of first tablet my heart was banging out of my chest unfortunately. so I was taken straight off it. It obviously didn’t agree with me.!

[purpleswimmer]

Hello, I have permanent a fib and heart failure. I always suffer side effects with medication. When first diagnosed I was on a plethora of drugs but was very ill with side effects, digoxin and bisoprolol being two of these. My consultant stopped most of them but my a fib kept getting out of control so we agreed I would start each med and try and let the side effects run there course before introducing the next drug. Long story short after a year of feeling very ill all the time I have had no episode of a fib since January and this is down to the above two drugs. Yes I feel tired at lot of the time, partly the meds and partly my heart failure but even this has lessened so long as I don't overdo things. I lead a near normal lifestyle. Xx

[Andy-f]

HiI would like to say thanks to everyone who replied

Lots of info

Food for thought so to speak

Thanks