A fond farewell to the foxglove? The decline in the use of digitalis.
Since William Withering's report on the foxglove in 1785, digitalis, in 1 form or another, has remained a mainstay in the treatment of congestive heart failure and as a means of rate control in atrial fibrillation. Recently, with the introduction of potent diuretics and other agents for the treatment of these conditions, there has been a deemphasis on the role of digitalis despite its therapeutic value. Continued evidence of the frequent usefulness of digitalis in both conditions suggests that this venerable drug should remain within the therapeutic armamentarium of cardiologists and other physicians.
Weisse
Allen B
AB
UMDNJ - New Jersey Medical School, Springfield, NJ 07081, USA.
D004070:Digitalis / Q000009:adverse effects; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides / Q000266:history* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000266:history; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000266:history*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000266:history* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D004071:Digitalis Glycosides; D010936:Plant Extracts