Definition

1. Noun:
   • A purified cardiac glycoside extracted from the leaves of the foxglove plant (Digitalis lanata), used as a medication to treat certain heart conditions such as congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation. It works by increasing the force of heart muscle contractions and slowing the heart rate.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The doctor prescribed digoxin to help regulate the patient's irregular heartbeat.
  • Monitoring blood levels is crucial when a patient is on digoxin to avoid toxicity.
  • Digoxin is often used when other heart failure medications are insufficient.

Advanced Usage

• "Digoxin toxicity": A potentially dangerous condition caused by excessive levels of digoxin in the blood, which can lead to symptoms like nausea, confusion, and visual disturbances.
  • The patient was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of digoxin toxicity.

Variants and Related Words

• Digitalis (n): The genus of plants from which digoxin and similar cardiac glycosides are derived; also a general term for these types of heart medications.
  • Digoxin is a specific compound within the digitalis family.
• Cardiac glycoside (n): The class of drugs to which digoxin belongs, which act on the heart muscle.
  • Digoxin is a well-known cardiac glycoside.

Synonyms

• Lanoxin (n): A common brand/trade name for digoxin.
  • The prescription was written for Lanoxin, which contains digoxin.

Related Phrases

• "On digoxin": A phrase describing a patient's regimen of taking the drug.
  • The elderly patient has been on digoxin for several years to manage her heart condition.
• "Digoxin level": Refers to the concentration of the drug in a patient's blood, which is monitored through tests.
  • The lab report showed a therapeutic digoxin level.

Noun

1. digitalis preparation (trade name Lanoxin) used to treat congestive heart failure or cardiac arrhythmia; helps the heart beat more forcefully