Definition

1. Noun:
   • A cardiac glycoside drug: Digitoxin is a purified compound derived from the foxglove plant (Digitalis), used as a medication to treat certain heart conditions.
   • A digitalis preparation: It is a specific type of digitalis preparation used primarily to treat congestive heart failure and to control certain cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats).

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The doctor prescribed digitoxin to help strengthen her heart's contractions.
  • Due to its narrow therapeutic index, the dosage of digitoxin must be monitored carefully.
  • Digitoxin is one of the active compounds found in the leaves of the foxglove plant.

Advanced Usage

• Clinical context: The term is used almost exclusively in medical, pharmacological, and botanical contexts.
  • The study compared the efficacy of digitoxin versus digoxin in atrial fibrillation.

Variants and Related Words

• Digitalis (n): The genus of plants (foxglove) from which digitoxin is derived; also a general term for cardiac glycoside drugs from these plants.
• Digoxin (n): A similar but more commonly used cardiac glycoside medication derived from digitalis.
• Cardiac glycoside (n): The class of drugs to which digitoxin belongs, which work by inhibiting the sodium-potassium ATPase pump in heart muscle cells.

Synonyms

• Cardiac glycoside: (the class of drug)
• Digitalis preparation: (a type of medication derived from the foxglove plant)

Notes on Meaning

• Primary Meaning: The term refers specifically to the chemical compound and pharmaceutical drug. It is not used in general conversation.
• Toxicity: The word shares its root with "toxic," alluding to the compound's potent and potentially poisonous nature if not dosed correctly.

Noun

1. digitalis preparation used to treat congestive heart failure or cardiac arrhythmia