[Drug safety associated with the change of digitalis drug in Norway].
BACKGROUND In 2011, following a period with delivery problems, the only registered digitoxin drug in Norway was replaced with digoxin. As a result, approximately 21 000 patients had to replace digitoxin with digoxin. There are important pharmacokinetic differences between digitoxin and digoxin (the general term for both drugs is digitalis), which must be taken into account when changing therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate compliance of drug security, during the transition from digitoxin to digoxin in Norway.MATERIAL AND METHOD Enquiries addressed to the Norwegian Poison Information Centre and reports of fatal adverse effects to the Regional Drug Information Centres (RELIS) regarding intake of digitalis were analysed. Serum concentrations of digitoxin and digoxin analyzed at Oslo University Hospital were reviewed. All data sources were reviewed for the years 2010-2014 and patients > 20 years were included.RESULTS The total number of enquiries addressed to the Norwegian Poison Information Centre, fatal adverse drug reactions reported to RELIS, and patient samples in the toxic range analyzed at Oslo University Hospital increased from 2012, timewise related to the transition to digoxin.INTERPRETATION Despite extensive information from the Norwegian Medicines Agency, a small, transient increase was observed in the number of overdoses and reported deaths from digitalis related to change in therapy. The cause of the overdose was in many cases unknown. This study revealed several cases of incorrect dosage, simultaneous use of digitoxin and digoxin, and washout time that was insufficient or lacking before initiation of digoxin.
Giftinformasjonen Divisjon for miljømedisin Folkehelseinstituttet.
Christian
C
Haga
Klinisk farmakologi Avdeling for farmakologi Klinikk for laboratoriemedisin Oslo universitetssykehus.
Mimi Stokke
MS
Opdal
Klinisk farmakologi Avdeling for farmakologi Klinikk for laboratoriemedisin Oslo universitetssykehus og Divisjon for rettsmedisinske fag Folkehelseinstituttet.
Silja Skogstad
SS
Tuv
Helseovervåkning og selvmordsforebygging Divisjon for psykisk og fysisk helse Folkehelseinstituttet.
Per Henrik
PH
Zahl
RELIS Sør-Øst Avdeling for farmakologi Klinikk for laboratoriemedisin Oslo universitetssykehus.
Hanne
H
Stenberg-Nilsen
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004074:Digitoxin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004077:Digoxin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D057915:Drug Substitution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D011039:Poison Control Centers
D004077:Digoxin; D004074:Digitoxin