What does digoxin do to the body?

As a medical professional with expertise in pharmacology, I can provide you with a detailed explanation of the effects of digoxin on the body. Digoxin is a medication that is commonly used to treat certain heart conditions. It is a type of drug known as an "inotropic agent," which means it affects the strength and speed of heart muscle contractions. Here's how it works in the body: 1. Heart Failure: In cases of heart failure, the heart is not able to pump blood as effectively as it should. Digoxin can improve the heart's ability to pump blood by strengthening the contractions of the heart muscle. This can lead to an improvement in symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and fluid retention. 2. Atrial Fibrillation: This is a heart problem characterized by an irregular and often rapid heart rate. It can lead to a decrease in the heart's efficiency. Digoxin helps by slowing down and controlling the heart rate, which can improve the heart's function and reduce the symptoms associated with atrial fibrillation. 3. Electrolyte Balance: Digoxin works in part by affecting the levels of certain electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium, in the body. It does this by inhibiting the sodium-potassium ATPase pump in the heart cells, which helps to maintain the balance of these electrolytes and contributes to the regulation of the heartbeat. 4. Ventricular Rate Control: In patients with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, digoxin is often used to control the ventricular rate, ensuring the heart does not beat too fast, which can be harmful. It's important to note that while digoxin can be very beneficial, it has a narrow therapeutic index, meaning the difference between a safe dose and a toxic dose is small. Therefore, it requires careful monitoring and dosage adjustments based on the patient's condition and response to the medication.

If you have heart failure, digoxin can improve your heart's ability to pump blood. This will often improve symptoms such as shortness of breath. ... This can be caused by a heart problem called atrial fibrillation. Digoxin helps by slowing down and controlling the heart rate.