LanoxinGeneric Name:digoxin Revised:4/1/2000 
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OverviewSide Effects and InteractionsTaking the MedicineSpecial Precautions | Overview |
Lanoxin is among the most frequently prescribed drugs in this country.
It is a digitalis heart medicine that to this day is derived from the leaves of a plant related to foxglove. Digitalis has been used medically for over 200 years.
Lanoxin is prescribed for congestive heart failure and certain irregular heart rhythms, or arrhythmias.
People with heart failure often experience fluid retention, sensitivity to cold, fatigue and difficulty breathing after mild exercise, and a nighttime cough, especially when they lie down.
Lanoxin works partly by increasing the pumping power of the heart. It can also help slow an abnormal heart when atrial rhythms gets out of control. But Lanoxin is complex to manage, especially in older people.
This medication requires careful monitoring to prevent an overdose as the therapeutic level is very close to the toxic dose. Periodic blood tests are crucial.
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