Can digoxin overdose cause death?

As a medical professional with expertise in pharmacology, I can confirm that digoxin overdose can indeed be fatal. Digoxin is a medication that is used to treat heart conditions such as atrial fibrillation and heart failure. It works by increasing the force of the heart's contractions and slowing the heart rate. However, when taken in excessive amounts, it can lead to a range of serious side effects, including life-threatening arrhythmias. In the context of an acute massive digoxin overdose, the patient could experience severe atrioventricular (AV) conduction disturbances, which are disruptions in the electrical signals that coordinate the heart's pumping action. These disturbances can result in a rapid or irregular heartbeat that the heart cannot sustain, potentially leading to immediate death. Additionally, conditions such as refractory hypokalaemia, which is a state of low potassium levels in the blood that do not respond to treatment, can exacerbate the effects of digoxin toxicity. Low potassium levels can increase the risk of developing arrhythmias, especially in the presence of digoxin, and this can also contribute to the cause of death in digoxin poisoning. It is crucial for patients taking digoxin to follow the prescribed dosage carefully and to monitor their potassium levels regularly, as part of a comprehensive approach to managing their heart condition.

Acute massive digoxin overdose in this patient would have caused life threatening arrhythmias mainly atrioventricular conduction disturbances which led to immediate death. Also refractory hypokalaemia can contribute to the cause of death in digoxin poisoning.9.