Digitalis is a very useful plant that is still used to treat heart ailments. Three main glycosides can be extracted from it : digitoxin, digoxin, and ouabain. They differ in their half-lives, from longest to shortest, respectively, though digoxin ( brand name Lanoxin) is the one most commonly available in the US. The mechanism of action is at the Na-K ATP'ase receptor. It is used for its inotropic effect to strengthen heart contractility in heart failure as well as to control heart rate in supraventricular arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation. The effect of digitalis can be seen on an ECG as ST coving commonly referred to as dig effect. An overdose can on the other hand produce practically any kind of arrhythmia (proarrhythmia). The earliest sign of overdose clinically can be a feeling of weakness.
Digitalis is a very useful plant that is still used to treat heart ailments. Three main glycosides can be extracted from it : digitoxin, digoxin, and ouabain. They differ in their half-lives, from longest to shortest, respectively, though digoxin ( brand name Lanoxin) is the one most commonly available in the US. The mechanism of action is at the Na-K ATP'ase receptor. It is used for its inotropic effect to strengthen heart contractility in heart failure as well as to control heart rate in supraventricular arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation. The effect of digitalis can be seen on an ECG as ST coving commonly referred to as dig effect. An overdose can on the other hand produce practically any kind of arrhythmia (proarrhythmia). The earliest sign of overdose clinically can be a feeling of weakness.