Maintenance digoxin in elderly patients.
Digitalis glycosides remain the cornerstone of treatment in cardiac failure. The increasing frequency of toxic effects is a cause for concern. Review of 80 elderly patients receiving digoxin on a maintenance basis, some of whom had toxic effects, shows that in almost three-quarters of the group digoxin was stopped without detriment. Elderly patients on maintenance treatment should be reviewed, and in the absence of a known primary cardiac lesion an attempt should be made to withdraw digoxin.
D000368:Aged; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D004077:Digoxin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000188:drug therapy
D004077:Digoxin