Which drug will be administered to a patient being admitted with severe digoxin intoxication?

Drug treatment of heart failure (HF) involves symptom relief with

Drug treatment for long-term management and improved survival is with

All patients should be given clear and explicit information about their drugs, including

  • The importance of timely prescription renewal

  • The importance of adherence to therapy

  • How to recognize adverse effects

  • When to contact their physician

Choice of drug depends on the type of heart failure along with individual patient characteristics. The most common classification of heart failure currently in use stratifies patients into

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)

In HFrEF standard of care includes the following four classes of therapies, considered to be 'foundational therapies' for HFrEF management:

  • Beta-blocker

  • Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitor(typically an ARNI, although an ACE inhibitor or ARB could also used if ARNI is not tolerated)

  • Aldosterone antagonist

  • SGLT2

These four drug classes have been studied and have shown benefit for long-term management of HFrEF. Therapy is typically titrated up to maximal tolerated doses. Patients are typically given a drug from each class. Because patients may already be taking one of these classes of drugs prior to developing heart failure, the order of therapy initiation and rate of up-titration are generally patient specific.

Other therapies are used in patient-specific settings (eg, sinus node inhibitors for lowering heart rate if patients cannot tolerate beta blockers).

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)

In HFpEF fewer drugs have been adequately studied. However, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, or aldosterone antagonists (mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists) are often used to treat HFpEF and/or associated comorbidities (such as hypertension and renal dysfunction), although survival benefit has not been demonstrated in clinical trials and, therefore, are not considered a standard of care.

ARNIs may reduce hospitalizations for heart failure but do not improve other outcomes.

Beta blockers should be used only when there is another existing indication (eg, control of heart rate during atrial fibrillation, angina, following myocardial infarction). In patients with severe HFpEF (in contrast to HFrEF), lowering the heart rate (eg, with a beta-blocker) can exacerbate symptoms because they have a relatively fixed stroke volume due to severe diastolic dysfunction. In these patients, cardiac output (CO) is heart rate dependent, and lowering heart rate can thus lower CO at rest and/or with exertion.

Heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF)

In HFmrEF there may be a specific benefit from ARNIs, although this possibility requires confirmation.

Patients with HFmrEF also benefit from the addition of an SGLT2 inhibitor such as empagliflozin to standard care.

  • 1. Packer M, Anker SD, Butler J, et al: Cardiovascular and renal outcomes with empagliflozin in heart failure. N Engl J Med 383(15):1413-1424, 2020. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2022190. Epub 2020 Aug 28. PMID: 32865377.

  • 2. Anker SD, Butler J, Filippatos G, et al: Empagliflozin in heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction. N Engl J Med 385(16):1451-1461, 2021. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2107038. Epub 2021 Aug 27. PMID: 34449189.

In patients with HFrEF, an aldosterone antagonist plus either an ACE inhibitor or an ARB is preferred over the combination of an ACE inhibitor and ARB.

ACE inhibitors reduce production of angiotensin II and breakdown of bradykinin, mediators that affect the sympathetic nervous system, endothelial function, vascular tone, and myocardial performance. Hemodynamic effects include

  • Arterial and venous vasodilation

  • Sustained decreases in LV filling pressure during rest and exercise

  • Decreased systemic vascular resistance

  • Favorable effects on ventricular remodeling

The starting dose typically should be low (usually one fourth to one half of the target dose depending on blood pressure and renal function); the dose is gradually adjusted upward over 8 weeks as tolerated, then continued indefinitely. Usual target doses of representative drugs include enalapril 10 to 20 mg twice a day, lisinopril 20 to 30 mg once a day, and ramipril 5 mg twice a day; there are many others.

If the hypotensive effect (more marked in patients with hyponatremia or volume depletion) is troublesome, it can often be minimized by separating administration of other blood pressure–lowering drugs, reducing the dose of concomitant diuretics, using a longer acting ACE inhibitor (eg, perindopril), or giving the dose at bedtime. ACE inhibitors often cause mild to moderate reversible serum creatinine elevation due to vasodilation of the efferent glomerular arteriole. An initial 20 to 30% increase in creatinine is no reason to stop the drug but does require closer monitoring, slower increases in dose, reduction in diuretic dose, or avoidance of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Because aldosterone’s effect is reduced, potassium retention (hyperkalemia Hyperkalemia Hyperkalemia is a serum potassium concentration > 5.5 mEq/L (> 5.5 mmol/L), usually resulting from decreased renal potassium excretion or abnormal movement of potassium out of cells. There... read more ) may result, especially in patients receiving potassium supplements. Cough occurs in 5 to 15% of patients, probably because bradykinin accumulates, but other causes of cough should also be considered. Occasionally, rash or dysgeusia occurs. Angioedema Angioedema Angioedema is edema of the deep dermis and subcutaneous tissues. It is usually an acute but sometimes a chronic mast cell–mediated reaction caused by exposure to a drug (eg, angiotensin-converting... read more

Which drug will be administered to a patient being admitted with severe digoxin intoxication?
is rare but can be life threatening and is a contraindication to ACE inhibitors. Alternatively, ARBs can be used, although rarely cross-reactivity is reported. Both are contraindicated in pregnancy.

Serum electrolytes and renal function should be measured before an ACE inhibitor is started, at 1 month, and after each significant increase in dose or change in clinical condition. If dehydration or poor renal function due to acute illness develops, the ACE inhibitor dose may need to be reduced or the drug may be temporarily stopped.

These drugs are not demonstrably superior to ACE inhibitors but are less likely to cause cough and angioedema; they may be used when these adverse effects prohibit ACE inhibitor use.

In chronic HFrEF, ACE inhibitors and ARBs are likely equally effective. Usual oral target doses are valsartan 160 mg twice a day, candesartan 32 mg once a day, and losartan 50 to 100 mg once a day. Introduction, upward dose adjustment, and monitoring of ARBs and ACE inhibitors are similar. Like ACE inhibitors, ARBs can cause reversible renal dysfunction, and the dose may need to be reduced or stopped temporarily during an acute dehydrating illness.

ARBs are contraindicated in pregnancy.

ARNIs are a new combination drug for the treatment of heart failure. They include an ARB and a newer class of drug, neprilysin inhibitors (eg, sacubitril). Neprilysin is an enzyme involved in the breakdown of vasoactive substances such as brain (B-type) natriuretic peptide (BNP) and other peptides. By inhibiting the breakdown of BNP and other beneficial vasoactive peptides, these drugs lower blood pressure, decrease afterload, and enhance natriuresis. Because neprilysin inhibitors increase BNP levels, NTproBNP levels (which are not increased by the drug) should be used instead to help diagnose and manage HF.

In HFrEF, a large randomized, controlled trial (5 Drug treatment references Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome of ventricular dysfunction (see Heart Failure). Drug treatment of heart failure (HF) involves symptom relief with Diuretics Nitrates Digoxin read more ) compared sacubitril/valsartan to enalapril in patients with NYHA (New York Heart Association) class II through IV heart failure (see table ). Sacubitril/valsartan reduced the primary endpoints of combined cardiovascular mortality or hospitalizations for HF; the number needed to treat was 21. Sacubitril/valsartan also reduced all-cause mortality. Thus, the ARNI sacubitril/valsartan should be considered in all patients with stable HFrEF, particularly those with NYHA class II or III symptoms on optimal guideline-directed medical therapy and who have elevated natriuretic peptide levels before starting treatment. Evidence supports early transition of patients from ACE/ARB to ARNI, even in the hospital setting where patients will experience less pulmonary congestion and may have fewer early readmissions.

There are 3 strengths of sacubitril/valsartan: 24/26 mg, 49/51 mg, and 97/103 mg, all are taken orally twice a day. The starting dose is 49/51 mg orally twice a day for patients previously taking an ACE inhibitor or ARB, and 24/26 mg for patients previously taking a low dose of an ACE inhibitor or ARB (eg, ≤ 10 mg enalapril daily) or in those patients who are ACE inhibitor/ARB naive or who have low/borderline blood pressure. ACE inhibitors must be discontinued 36 hours before initiation of sacubitril/valsartan. Patients previously taking an ARB can simply switch to sacubitril/valsartan without a washout period.

In patients with HFrEF, beta-blockers, unless otherwise contraindicated (by asthma Asthma Asthma is a disease of diffuse airway inflammation caused by a variety of triggering stimuli resulting in partially or completely reversible bronchoconstriction. Symptoms and signs include dyspnea... read more , 2nd- or 3rd-degree atrioventricular block Atrioventricular Block Atrioventricular (AV) block is partial or complete interruption of impulse transmission from the atria to the ventricles. The most common cause is idiopathic fibrosis and sclerosis of the conduction... read more

Which drug will be administered to a patient being admitted with severe digoxin intoxication?
, or previous significant intolerance), are critical for the treatment, and an important addition to ACE inhibitors in these patients. In HFrEF, beta-blockers are best started when the patient has no evidence of pulmonary congestion. Specific beta-blockers such as carvedilol and metoprolol succinate (ie, long-acting metoprolol) improve left ventricular ejection fraction, survival, and other major cardiovascular outcomes in patients with chronic HFrEF, including those with severe symptoms.

The starting dose should be low (one fourth of the target daily dose), then the dose is gradually increased over 8 weeks as tolerated. The acute negative inotropic effects of beta-blockade may initially cause cardiac depression and fluid retention. In such cases, a temporary increase in diuretic dose and slower upward titration of the beta-blocker dose is warranted. Tolerance may improve over time, and efforts should be made to reach target doses. Usual oral target doses are carvedilol 25 mg twice a day (50 mg twice a day for patients 85 kg), bisoprolol 10 mg once a day, and metoprolol 50 to 75 mg twice a day (tartrate) or 200 mg once a day (succinate extended-release). Carvedilol, a 3rd-generation nonselective beta-blocker, is also a vasodilator with alpha-blocking and antioxidant effects; it is the preferred and most widely studied beta-blocker but is more expensive in many countries. Some beta-blockers (eg, bucindolol, xamoterol) do not appear beneficial and may be harmful.

During a severe, acute decompensation, beta-blockers should not be started until patients are stabilized and have little evidence of fluid retention. For HFrEF patients with acute HF exacerbation already taking a beta-blocker, the dose should not be decreased or stopped unless absolutely necessary. Often the beta-blocker dose can be continued in patients with an acute HF exacerbation if the diuretic dose is temporarily increased.

In HFrEF, after initial treatment, heart rate and myocardial oxygen consumption decrease, and stroke volume and filling pressure are unchanged. With the slower heart rate, diastolic function improves. Ventricular filling returns to a more normal pattern (increasing in early diastole), which appears less restrictive. Improved myocardial function is measurable in some patients after 6 to 12 months but may take longer; ejection fraction (EF) and cardiac output (CO) increase, and LV filling pressure decreases. Exercise capacity improves.

Digoxin inhibits the sodium-potassium pump (Na+, K+-ATPase). As a result, it causes weak positive inotropy, reduces sympathetic activity, blocks the atrioventricular node (slowing the ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation or prolonging the PR interval in sinus rhythm), reduces vasoconstriction, and improves renal blood flow. Digoxin is excreted by the kidneys; elimination half-life is 36 to 40 hours in patients with normal renal function.

Digoxin has no proven survival benefit but, when used with diuretics and an ACE inhibitor, may help control symptoms and reduce the likelihood of hospitalization in patients with HFrEF. However, because of the availability of a large number of evidence-based treatments for HFrEF, digoxin use has dropped significantly and is reserved for patients with significant symptoms despite optimal treatment with other mortality lowering medications. Digoxin should not be used in HFpEF unless it is being used to control heart rate in concomitant atrial fibrillation or to augment RV function in patients with RV failure. Digoxin is most effective in patients with large LV end-diastolic volumes and a 3rd heart sound (S3). Acute withdrawal of digoxin may increase the hospitalization rate and worsen symptoms.

In patients with normal renal function, digoxin, 0.125 to 0.25 mg orally once a day depending on age, sex, and body size, achieves full digitalization in about 1 week (5 half-lives). More rapid digitalization can be achieved with digoxin 0.5 mg IV over 15 minutes followed by 0.25 mg IV at 8 and 16 hours or with 0.5 mg orally followed by 0.25 mg orally at 8, 16, and 24 hours. Prescription patterns vary widely by physician and by country, but in general, doses are lower than those used in the past, and a trough (8- to 12-hours post-dose) digoxin level of 0.8 to 1.2 ng/mL (1 to 1.5 nmol/L) is preferable. In addition, unlike in the treatment of atrial fibrillation, there is typically little reason to rapidly digitalize (ie, digoxin load) patients with HF. Thus, simply starting digoxin at 0.125 mg orally once a day (in patients with normal renal function) or digoxin 0.125 mg orally every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (in patients with abnormal renal function) is sufficient in patients with heart failure.

Digoxin toxicity is a concern, especially in patients with renal dysfunction and perhaps in women. These patients may need a lower oral dose, as may older patients, patients with a low lean body mass, and patients also taking amiodarone. Digoxin has a narrow therapeutic window. The most important toxic effects are life-threatening arrhythmias (eg, ventricular fibrillation Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) Ventricular fibrillation causes uncoordinated quivering of the ventricle with no useful contractions. It causes immediate syncope and death within minutes. Treatment is with cardiopulmonary... read more

Which drug will be administered to a patient being admitted with severe digoxin intoxication?
, ventricular tachycardia Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) Ventricular tachycardia is ≥ 3 consecutive ventricular beats at a rate ≥ 120 beats/minute. Symptoms depend on duration and vary from none to palpitations to hemodynamic collapse and death. Diagnosis... read more , complete atrioventricular block Atrioventricular Block Atrioventricular (AV) block is partial or complete interruption of impulse transmission from the atria to the ventricles. The most common cause is idiopathic fibrosis and sclerosis of the conduction... read more
Which drug will be administered to a patient being admitted with severe digoxin intoxication?
). Bidirectional ventricular tachycardia, nonparoxysmal junctional tachycardia in the presence of atrial fibrillation, and hyperkalemia are serious signs of digitalis toxicity. Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, confusion, amblyopia, and, rarely, xerophthalmia may occur. If hypokalemia Hypokalemia Hypokalemia is serum potassium concentration < 3.5 mEq/L (< 3.5 mmol/L) caused by a deficit in total body potassium stores or abnormal movement of potassium into cells. The most common... read more or hypomagnesemia Hypomagnesemia Hypomagnesemia is serum magnesium concentration < 1.8 mg/dL (< 0.70 mmol/L). Causes include inadequate magnesium intake and absorption or increased excretion due to hypercalcemia or drugs... read more (often due to diuretic use) is present, lower doses and serum levels can still cause toxicity. Electrolyte levels should be monitored in patients taking diuretics and digoxin, so that abnormalities can be prevented if possible; potassium-sparing diuretics may be helpful.

When digoxin toxicity occurs, the drug should be stopped; electrolyte abnormalities should be corrected (IV if abnormalities are severe and toxicity is acute). Patients with severe toxicity are admitted to a monitored unit, and digoxin immune Fab (ovine antidigoxin antibody fragments) is given if arrhythmias are present or if significant overingestion is accompanied by a serum potassium of > 5 mEq/L (> 5 mmol/L). Digoxin immune Fab is also useful for glycoside toxicity due to plant ingestion. Dose is based on the steady-state serum digoxin level or total amount ingested. Ventricular arrhythmias are treated with lidocaine or phenytoin. Atrioventricular block with a slow ventricular rate may require a temporary transvenous pacemaker. Isoproterenol is contraindicated because it increases risk of ventricular arrhythmia.

Diuretics are given to all patients with HF (regardless of underlying ejection fraction) who have current or previous volume overload; dose is adjusted to the lowest dose that stabilizes weight and relieves symptoms.

Commonly used loop diuretics include furosemide, bumetanide, and torsemide. The starting dose of these drugs depends on whether the patient has previously received loop diuretics. Common starting doses are: furosemide 20 to 40 mg orally once a day or twice a day, bumetanide 0.5 to 1.0 mg orally once a day, and torsemide 10 to 20 mg orally once a day. If needed, loop diuretics can be titrated up to doses of furosemide 120 mg orally twice a day, bumetanide 2 mg orally twice a day, and torsemide 40 mg orally twice a day based on response and renal function. Bumetanide and torsemide have better bioavailability than furosemide. If patients are switched between different loop diuretics, they should be placed on equivalent doses. Furosemide 40 mg is equivalent to bumetanide 1 mg, and both are equivalent to torsemide 20 mg.

In refractory cases, IV loop diuretics or metolazone 2.5 to 10 mg orally can be used for an additive effect. IV infusion of furosemide (5 to 10 mg/hour) or other loop diuretics may be helpful in selected patients with severe edema. A bolus dose of loop diuretic should be given before starting an IV infusion and before each increase in infusion rate.

Loop diuretics (particularly when used with metolazone) may cause hypovolemia with hypotension, hyponatremia, hypomagnesemia, and severe hypokalemia. The dose of diuretic required acutely can usually be gradually reduced; the target is the lowest dose that maintains stable weight and controls symptoms. When HF improves, the diuretic may be stopped if other drugs improve heart function and relieve HF symptoms. Using larger than required doses of diuretics lowers CO, impairs renal function, causes hypokalemia, and increases mortality. Serum electrolytes and renal function are monitored, initially daily (when diuretics are given IV) and subsequently as needed, particularly after a dose increase.

An aldosterone antagonist, either spironolactone or eplerenone, should be added early to offset the potassium-losing effects of higher-dose loop diuretics. Hyperkalemia may result, especially when ACE inhibitors or ARBs are also taken, so electrolytes must still be monitored, especially during a dehydrating illness that could cause renal dysfunction. Aldosterone antagonists may have particular benefit in chronic right ventricular failure, in which hepatic congestion results in elevated aldosterone levels as aldosterone metabolism is reduced. To reduce the risk of hyperkalemia, aldosterone antagonists should generally be given only to patients whose potassium level is < 5.0 mEq/L (< 5 mmol/L), serum creatinine is < 2.5 mg/dL (< 221 micromol/L), and GFR is > 30 mL/min/1.73 m2. Furthermore, it should be noted that the equivalent dose of eplerenone is twice that of spironolactone (ie, spironolactone 25 mg = eplerenone 50 mg).

Thiazide diuretics are not normally used alone unless being given as treatment of hypertension; however, a thiazide diuretic may be added to a loop diuretic for additional diuresis and to reduce the loop diuretic dose. Hydrochlorothiazide, metolazone, and chlorthalidone can be used in this manner.

Reliable patients are taught to take additional diuretic doses as needed when weight or peripheral edema increases. They should seek medical attention promptly if weight gain persists.

Vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone) receptor antagonists are not frequently used though they may be helpful in cases of severe refractory hyponatremia in patients with HF.

There is an inward sodium/potassium current that travels through a certain gated channel (funny or "f" channel) in sinus node (cardiac pacemaker) cells located in the posterior right atrium. This current is sometimes referred to as the inward funny current (If). Inhibition of this current prolongs the time it takes to achieve critical spontaneous depolarization of pacemaker cells, and thus lowers the heart rate.

Ivabradine is an If channel blocker that acts at the sinus node to slow the heart rate. Since the receptors are present only in cardiac pacemaker cells, these drugs have no other cardiac effects (ie they do not directly affect contractility), and are not useful for treatment in patients who are not in sinus rhythm. Ivabradine is currently recommended for use in HFrEF patients who have symptomatic HF, normal sinus rhythm, and heart rate > 70 beats/minute despite guideline-directed medical therapy (which should include beta-blockers). Typically, patients who may benefit from ivabradine are those with HFrEF who have NYHA (New York Heart Association) class II or class III symptoms (see table ) and heart rate > 70 beats/minute who are at target beta-blocker dose or cannot tolerate a further increase in beta-blocker dose (8 Drug treatment references Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome of ventricular dysfunction (see Heart Failure). Drug treatment of heart failure (HF) involves symptom relief with Diuretics Nitrates Digoxin read more ).

Initial dose of ivabradine is 2.5 to 5 mg orally twice a day, titrated at 2-week intervals to a heart rate of 50 to 60 beats/minute; maximum dose is 7.5 mg twice a day.

Ivabradine is currently the only drug in this class.

Dapagliflozin and empagliflozin may be given 10 mg orally once a day. With treatment, there is a mild (10 to 15%) reduction in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) which does not progress, glucosuria, and a small reduction in body weight. Risks include genital fungal infection, and in patients with diabetes, a very small risk of hypoglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis. These drugs are generally not indicated in patients with type I diabetes, low blood pressure, low eGFR (< 30 mL/min/1.73 m2), or rapidly worsening renal function.

Other SGLT2 inhibitors (eg, canagliflozin, ertugliflozin) have not been studied directly in HF, but secondary analysis of studies in diabetes suggest they may also be beneficial.

Hydralazine plus isosorbide dinitrate may help patients truly intolerant of ACE inhibitors or ARBs (usually because of significant renal dysfunction), although limited studies show long-term benefit of this combination. However, in patients of African ancestry this combination, when added to standard therapy, has been shown to reduce mortality and hospitalization, and improve quality of life. As vasodilators, these drugs improve hemodynamics, reduce valvular regurgitation, and increase exercise capacity without causing significant renal impairment.

When used instead of ACE/ARB therapy, hydralazine is started at 25 mg orally 4 times a day and increased every 3 to 5 days to a target total dose of 300 mg/day, although many patients cannot tolerate > 200 mg/day because of hypotension. Isosorbide dinitrate is started at 20 mg orally 3 times a day (with a 12-hour nitrate-free interval) and increased to a target of 40 to 50 mg 3 times a day. Whether lower doses (frequently used in clinical practice) provide long-term benefit is unknown. In general, vasodilators have been replaced by ACE inhibitors, which are easier to use, are usually better tolerated, and have greater proven benefit.

When added to ACE/ARB therapy, hydralazine-nitrate therapy may benefit patients of African ancestry with HFrEF. In this case, the starting dose is hydralazine 37.5 mg and isosorbide dinitrate 20 mg orally three times a day, with the maximum dose 75 mg and 40 mg three times a day. These doses are also available as a fixed-dose combination. The decision to add or substitute hydralazine-nitrate therapy to an ACE/ARB in patients of African ancestry with HF is patient specific and frequently determined by drug tolerance and symptom burden. In general, RAAS inhibitor therapy (ACE, ARB, or ARNI) should be used in this population, if tolerated.

Other vasodilators such as calcium channel blockers are not used to treat LV systolic dysfunction. Short-acting dihydropyridines (eg, nifedipine) and nondihydropyridines (eg, diltiazem, verapamil) may be deleterious. However, amlodipine and felodipine are better tolerated and may be useful for patients with HF and associated angina or hypertension Hypertension Hypertension is sustained elevation of resting systolic blood pressure (≥ 130 mm Hg), diastolic blood pressure (≥ 80 mm Hg), or both. Hypertension with no known cause (primary; formerly, essential... read more

Which drug will be administered to a patient being admitted with severe digoxin intoxication?
. Both drugs may cause peripheral edema; rarely, amlodipine causes pulmonary edema Pulmonary Edema Pulmonary edema is acute, severe left ventricular failure with pulmonary venous hypertension and alveolar flooding. Findings are severe dyspnea, diaphoresis, wheezing, and sometimes blood-tinged... read more
Which drug will be administered to a patient being admitted with severe digoxin intoxication?
. Felodipine should not be taken with grapefruit juice, which significantly increases plasma levels and adverse effects by inhibiting cytochrome P-450 metabolism. In patients with HFpEF, dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine may be used as needed to treat hypertension or ischemia; nondihydropyridines such as diltiazem or verapamil may be used to control ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation Atrial Fibrillation Atrial fibrillation is a rapid, irregularly irregular atrial rhythm. Symptoms include palpitations and sometimes weakness, effort intolerance, dyspnea, and presyncope. Atrial thrombi may form... read more . Verapamil is often used in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a congenital or acquired disorder characterized by marked ventricular hypertrophy with diastolic dysfunction (eg, due to valvular aortic stenosis, coarctation... read more
Which drug will be administered to a patient being admitted with severe digoxin intoxication?
.

Various positive inotropic drugs have been evaluated in heart failure but, except for digoxin, they increase mortality risk. These drugs can be grouped as adrenergic mode of action (norepinephrine, epinephrine, dobutamine, dopamine) or nonadrenergic (enoximone, milrinone, levosimendan [calcium sensitizers]). Regular outpatient IV infusions of inotropes (eg, dobutamine) were previously tried but found to increase mortality and are not recommended. However, outpatient continuous infusions of inotropes such as dobutamine or milrinone can be used for palliative purposes in patients with severe HFrEF.

  • 1. Pitt B, Pfeffer MA, Assmann SF, et al: Spironolactone for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. N Engl J Med 370:1383–1392, 2014. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1313731

  • 2. Cleland JG, Tendera M, Adamus J, et al: The perindopril in elderly people with chronic heart failure (PEP-CHF) study. Eur Heart J 27:2338–2345, 2006. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehl250

  • 3. Yusuf S, Pfeffer MA, Swedberg K, et al: Effects of candesartan in patients with chronic heart failure and preserved left-ventricular ejection fraction: the CHARM-Preserved Trial. Lancet 362:777, 2003. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)14285-7

  • 4. Massie BM, Carson PE, McMurray JJ, et al: Irbesartan in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction. N Engl J Med 359:2456–2467, 2008. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0805450

  • 5. McMurray JJ, Packer M, Desai AS, et al: Angiotensin-neprilysin inhibition versus enalapril in heart failure. N Engl J Med 371:993–1004, 2014. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1409077

  • 6. Solomon SD, McMurray JJ, Anand IS, et al: Angiotensin-neprilysin inhibition in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. N Engl J Med 381:1609–1620, 2019. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1908655

  • 7. McMurray JJV, Jackson AM, LAM CSP, et al: Effects of sacubitril-valsartan Versus valsartan in women compared with men with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction: Insights From PARAGON-HF. Circulation 41(5):338–351, 2020. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.119.044491

  • 8. Swedberg K, Komajda M, Bohm M, et al: Ivabradine and outcomes in chronic heart failure (SHIFT): a randomised placebo-controlled study. Lancet 376(9744):875–885, 2010. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(10)61198-1

  • 9. McMurray JJV, Solomon SD, Inzucchi SE, et al: Dapagliflozin in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction. N Engl J Med 381(21):1995–2008, 2019. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1911303

  • 10. Anker SD, Butler J, Filippatos G, et al: Empagliflozin in heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction. N Engl J Med 385(16):1451-1461, 2021. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2107038. Epub 2021 Aug 27. PMID: 34449189.

  • 11. Redfield M, Anstrom KJ, Levine JA, et al: Isosorbide mononitrate in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. N Engl J Med 373:2314–2324, 2015. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1510774

  • 12. Armstrong PW, Pieske B, Anstrom KJ, et al: Vericiguat in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction. N Engl J Med 382(20):1883–1893, 2020. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1915928

The following are some of the major English-language heart failure guidelines that may be useful. Please note that THE MANUAL is not responsible for the content of these resources.

  • McDonagh TA, Metra M, Adamo M, et al: 2021 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure: Developed by the Task Force for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) with the special contribution of the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC. Eur Heart J 42(36):3599-3726, 2021. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehab368

  • Heidenreich PA, Bozkurt B, Aguilar D, et al: 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation 145:e876–e894, 2022, doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001062

What drug is given for digoxin toxicity?

Digoxin-specific antibody antigen-binding fragments (DSFab), brand name Digibind or Digifab, are an effective antidote that directly binds digoxin. DSFab is indicated for life-threatening toxicity including: Ventricular arrhythmias. High-grade heart blocks.

How are symptoms of digitalis toxicity treated?

To treat toxicity, your doctor might pump your stomach by inserting a tube down your throat. You might also be asked to take charcoal tablets to lower the level of digitalis in your blood. If your condition is extreme, your doctor may use a method called hemodialysis (blood filtering).