title: Current management of digitalis intoxication.
abstract: Of the commonly used drugs, digitalis has one of the highest therapeutic-toxic ratios. Mortality is significantly increased in the 20% to 30% of patients on digitalis who are in a toxic state when admitted to the hospital. Successful use of digitalis depends on avoidance of its use in situations likely to result in toxicity; recognition of the signs, symptoms, and electrocardiographic findings of digitalis intoxication; and stopping digitalis completely as the initial treatment of digitalis intoxication.
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy; D001285:Atropine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides / Q000506:poisoning*; D004554:Electric Countershock; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004071:Digitalis Glycosides; D010672:Phenytoin; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D001285:Atropine; D012964:Sodium; D007545:Isoproterenol; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium