Lanoxin 250mcg 240 Tabs/Pack (Digoxin)

Lanoxin general information

What is Lanoxin used for?

Lanoxin tablets 250mcg are used to treat and manage chronic heart failure, which is where the heart muscle has become weakened and cannot pump blood efficiently around the body. The most dominant problem is systolic dysfunction or impaired contraction of the ventricles or the chambers of the heart that pump blood out to the rest of the body, causing blood to pool in the atria (upper chambers) which collects blood to send into the ventricles (lower chambers). Lanoxin 250 mcg is particularly helpful for treating heart failure that is accompanied by certain arrhythmias, which are abnormal and irregular heart beat, caused by abnormal electrical activity in the heart, particularly atrial fibrillation; they are also used in the managements of certain supraventricular arrhythmias, or irregular heart rhythms in the atria, and this causes atrial fibrillation or flutter. Lanoxin tablets 250mcg help the heart to work more efficiently reducing symptoms of breathlessness on exertion, tiredness and oedema or fluid retention, such as swollen ankles and feet characteristic of heart failure.

How does Lanoxin work?

Lanoxin tablets 250mcg contain digoxin, which is a cardiac glycoside that has positive inotropic effects (alters the force of muscular contractions) and acts directly on the heart muscle to slow down the heart rate and increase the force of contraction of the heart muscle. Digoxin in Lanoxin tablets 250mcg inhibits the action of an ion pump (Na+/K+ pump) in the membrane of heart cells that controls the flow of sodium and potassium across the cell membrane. This alters the composition of sodium, potassium and calcium in the cell and the ionic gradient across the cell, which slows down the rate of contraction of those cells and in turn slows down the heart beat but increases the force of each heartbeat. Digoxin in Lanoxin 250 micrograms also has an indirect effect on heart rate due to similar actions on the autonomic nervous system, which controls conduction of nervous impulses through the atrioventricular node (electrical control system of the heart that co-ordinates heart rate), and reduces the ventricular rate of contraction. The direct and indirect action of Lanoxin tablets 250mcg contributes to their overall beneficial effects.

What does Lanoxin contain?

Lanoxin tablets 250mcg contains the active ingredient digoxin, a cardiac glycoside that is used to treat heart failure and certain arrhythmias. They also contain rice starch, lactose, maize starch, maize starch (hydrolysed), magnesium stearate, purified water.

Treating heart failure with Lanoxin

Lanoxin tablets 250mcg contain digoxin that is used to treat and manage chronic heart failure, which is where the heart muscle has become weakened and cannot pump blood efficiently around the body. Heart failure is usually due to a systolic dysfunction which is impaired contraction of the ventricles or the chambers of the heart that pump blood out to the rest of the body, and may be accompanied by atrial fibrillation, which is a common arrhythmia (abnormal or irregular heart beat) caused by abnormal electrical activity in the atria or upper chambers of the heart. Digoxin in Lanoxin 250 micrograms acts directly on the heart muscle to slow down the heart rate and increase the force of contraction of the heart muscle; it also has an indirect effect on heart beat via the nervous system that acts via the atrioventricular node (electrical control system of the heart that co-ordinates heart rate). The direct and indirect action of Lanoxin tablets 250mcg help the heart to work more efficiently reducing symptoms of breathlessness on exertion, tiredness and oedema or fluid retention, such as swollen ankles and feet, that are characteristic of heart failure.

What are the side effects of Lanoxin?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Lanoxin tablets 250mcg include: dizziness, visual disturbances (blurred or yellow vision), palpitations (irregular heart beats), nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, skin rash.

When should Lanoxin not be used?

You should not use Lanoxin tablets 250mcg if you:

• are allergic to digoxin, other glycosides or any ingredients in Lanoxin
• have kidney or liver disease
• have certain heart problems including ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart muscle) , second degree or intermittent complete heart block
• are taking medicines that interact with Lanoxin, including: beta-blockers like propanolol for heart conditions, some diuretics, lithium for mood disorders, corticosteroids and carbenoxolone for oesophageal ulceration, the muscle relaxant suxamethonium, calcium, alprazolam for anxiety and depression, antiarrhythmics like amiodarone, propafenone, quinidine and flecainide, alpha-blockers for hypertension like prazosin, the diuretic spironolactone, antibiotics like erythromycin, clarythromycin, tetracycline, neomycin, penicillamine and rifampicin; the antifungal itraconazole, the anti-malarial quinine, the antibiotic trimethoprim, the anti-inflammatory indomethacin, propantheline, the antidepressant nefazodone, statins like atorvastatin for high cholesterol, the immunosuppressant cyclosporine, epoprostenol for pulmonary hypertension, the beta-blocker carvedilol. Antacids for indigestion, some bulk laxatives for constipation, kaolin-pectin for diarrhoea, some cytostatics for cancer treatement, the anti-emetic metoclopramide, sulphasalazine for arthritis, adrenaline for breathing problems, salbutamol for asthma, cholestyramine for high cholesterol, the antiepileptic phenytoin, the herbal preparation St John's wort, Verapamil, the calcium channel blockers felodipine and tiapamil for heart conditions and hypertension

What medications interact with Lanoxin?

Several medications interact with Lanoxin tablets 250mcg and should either not be taken while you are taking Lanoxin or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that cause a serious reaction with Lanoxin: calcium, beta-blockers like propanolol for heart conditions, the muscle relaxant suxamethonium,
• Drugs that cause increased sensitivity to Lanoxin: some diuretics, lithium for mood disorders, corticosteroids and carbenoxolone for oesophageal ulceration,
• Drugs that affect Lanoxin: alprazolam for anxiety and depression, antiarrhythmics like amiodarone, propafenone, quinidine and flecainide, alpha-blockers for hypertension like prazosin, the diuretic spironolactone, antibiotics like erythromycin, clarythromycin, tetracycline, neomycin, penicillamine and rifampicin; the antifungal itraconazole, the anti-malarial quinine, the antibiotic trimethoprim, the anti-inflammatory indomethacin, propantheline, the antidepressant nefazodone, statins like atorvastatin for high cholesterol, the immunosuppressant cyclosporine, epoprostenol for pulmonary hypertension, the beta-blocker carvedilol. Antacids for indigestion, some bulk laxatives for constipation, kaolin-pectin for diarrhoea, some cytostatics for cancer treatement, the anti-emetic metoclopramide, sulphasalazine for arthritis, adrenaline for breathing problems, salbutamol for asthma, cholestyramine for high cholesterol, the antiepileptic phenytoin, the herbal preparation St John's wort, Verapamil, the calcium channel blockers felodipine and tiapamil for heart conditions and hypertension

How should Lanoxin be taken?

You should take your Lanoxin tablets 250mcg with a glass of water and with food. The dose you take and how often depends on your age, lean body weight and kidney function and your doctor will determine your initial loading dose as well as your maintenance dose. Once you have achieved the appropriate loading dose of Lanoxin you will continue to take the maintenance dose usually daily for as long as recommended by your doctor, which may be for the rest of your life depending on your condition and what you are being treated for.

How long should you take Lanoxin?

Once you have achieved the appropriate loading dose of Lanoxin you will continue to take the maintenance dose usually daily for as long as recommended by your doctor, which may be for the rest of your life depending on your condition and what you are being treated for.

Missed dose of Lanoxin

If you miss a dose of Lanoxin tablets 250mcg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.

How should Lanoxin be stored?

You should store your Lanoxin tablets 250mcg below 25°C in a cool dry place and away from light.