title: Supervised withdrawal of long-term digoxin therapy.
abstract: All 32 patients treated with digoxin for over three months in one practice population had treatment withdrawn under supervision to assess its continued requirement. In 18 instances (56%) digoxin proved necessary and was restarted to correct clinical deterioration, while in 14 instances (44%) it was successfully discontinued. Successful withdrawal was more frequently achieved in those with sinus rhythm (91% of 14 patients) than in atrial fibrillation (19% of 21 patients). Where digoxin was required dosage increases were necessary to achieve optimum clinical control. Adherence to a strict protocol allows unnecessary therapy to be withdrawn and facilitates improved care when therapy is required, with accompanying savings in costs and time.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, Edinburgh University, Scotland.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Fair
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004077:Digoxin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D004077:Digoxin