Cardiac glycosides are a class of medications used to treat heart failure. Cardiac glycoside overdose occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally takes more than the normal or recommended amount of this medication.

This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If you have an exposure, you should call your local emergency number (such as 911) or the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Digoxin overdose; Digitoxin overdose; Lanoxin overdose; Purgoxin overdose; Allocar overdose; Corramedan overdose; Crystodigin overdose

Cardiac glycoside is a chemical that has effects on the heart, stomach, intestines, and nervous system. It is the active ingredient in many different heart medicines. It can be poisonous if taken in large amounts.

Cardiac glycosides are the main (active) ingredients in certain prescription medicines, including:

• Deslanoside (cedilanin-D)
• Digitoxin (Crystodigin)
• Digoxin (Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin)

Cardiac glycosides also occur naturally in certain plants. For information on poisoning from such plants, see:

• Foxglove poisoning
• Oleander poisoning

Note: This list may not be all-inclusive.

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Cardiac glycoside overdose Symptoms

Review Date: 01/17/2010
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)