Decrease of intracranial pressure and weight with digoxin in obesity.
Fourteen obese patients (body mass index = 34-47 kg/m2; mean = 40 kg/m2) with lumbar cerebrospinal fluid pressure (Pcsf) above 20 cm water in 10 of the 14 patients were treated with digoxin with a serum concentration of at least 1.0 nmol/L (0.8 ng/ml) for 6 months. Pcsf decreased significantly during digoxin medication (p < 0.005). Although there were no diet restrictions, all patients decreased in weight (range: 3-25 kg; mean = 10.6 kg) during the 6 months (p < 0.001). When digoxin medication was stopped in 3 patients, prompt weight increase occurred. Most patients needed progressively increased digoxin doses to attain stabilized serum concentrations at the stipulated level, in 5 patients more than 0.5 mg a day. Five of 13 patients developed diabetes mellitus during the digoxin medication. The larger the dose of digoxin, the greater the risk for diabetes mellitus to occur.
Hannerz
J
J
Department of Neurology, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D015170:Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004077:Digoxin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss
D004077:Digoxin