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What are some nursing implications when administering digoxin?
Nursing Considerations Across the Lifespan Serum digoxin levels should be monitored, with a normal therapeutic range from 0.8 to 2 ng/mL. Serum potassium levels should also be closely monitored for patients on digoxin because hypokalemia increases the effect of digoxin and can result in digoxin toxicity.
What should a nurse do before giving digoxin?
A nurse should assess the apical pulse for a full minute before administering digoxin due to its positive inotropic action (it increases contractility, stroke volume, and, thus, cardiac output), negative chronotropic action (it decreases heart rate), and negative dromotropic action (it decreases electrical conduction …
What nursing intervention would be completed with the administration of digoxin?
Monitor BP periodically in patients receiving IV digoxin. Monitor ECG during IV administration and 6 hr after each dose. Notify health care professional if bradycardia or new arrhythmias occur. Observe IV site for redness or infiltration; extravasation can lead to tissue irritation and sloughing.
What medication is contraindicated with digoxin?
Digoxin has many interactions, including:
- Erythromycin and tetracycline (antibiotics)
- Antiarrhythmic drugs (amiodarone)
- Calcium channel blockers.
- Over-the-counter antacids.
- Hawthorn (an herbal remedy)
- Black licorice.
- Large amounts of oatmeal, milk and high-fibre cereals.
How do nurses assess for digoxin toxicity?
An additional nursing intervention to guard against digoxin toxicity is to assess the apical pulse for one full minute before administering digoxin. Hold the next dose and contact the physician if the apical pulse is less than 60 or more than 120 beats per minute.
When should you not give digoxin?
New recommendations suggest limiting the use of digoxin for atrial fibrillation to only patients in whom beta blockers and calcium channel blockers have not achieved rate control and who are not considered candidates for other procedures to treat atrial fib (ablation or surgical Maze procedure).
How can a nurse assess for digoxin toxicity?
What are two 2 contraindications for the use of digoxin?
Digoxin is contraindicated in the following conditions[5]: Acute myocardial infarction. Hypersensitivity to the drug. Ventricular fibrillation.
Can you take digoxin and bisoprolol together?
Using digoxin together with bisoprolol may slow your heart rate and lead to increased side effects. Contact your doctor if you experience nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, confusion, seizures, visual changes, fatigue, irregular heartbeats, and abnormally fast or slow heartbeats.
Can digoxin be taken with other medications?
Other medications can affect the removal of digoxin from your body, which may affect how digoxin works. Examples include azole antifungals (such as itraconazole), dronedarone, lapatinib, macrolide antibiotics (such as clarithromycin, erythromycin), propafenone, rifampin, St. John’s wort, among others.
When is digoxin contraindicated?
Can you take digoxin and sotalol?
Taking digoxin with sotalol can decrease your heart rate. It can also cause new heart rhythm problems, or cause preexisting heart rhythm problems to occur more often.
What are digoxin nursing implications?
Digoxin nursing implications are divided into nursing assessment, interventions, and evaluation. Take a comprehensive medical, drug, and herbal history. Determine the previous hypersensitivity to digoxin and related ingredients and possible food interactions. Obtaining a baseline vital signs for future comparison including apical pulse.
Does ginseng increase digoxin toxicity?
Herbal: Ginseng increase digoxin toxicity; ma huang, ephedra may induce arrhythmias. Absorption: 70% PO tablets; 90% PO liquid and capsules.
What should be included in patient education about digoxin toxicity?
Additional considerations include informing patients on the effect that medications, even over-the-counter ones, and diet have on how digoxin is absorbed in the body. For example, a diet high in fiber can actually decrease the amount of digoxin that is absorbed before it’s eliminated from the body.
What is digoxin and how does it work?
Digoxin works by altering the mineral content of heart cells. For example, it changes the amount of sodium or potassium in the cells. This makes it easier for the heart to pump blood and reduces the amount of strain the heart muscle endures. Like any medication, digoxin can cause certain side effects.