Tag Archives: digitalis

In the first article, Xanniedes et al. take a look back at the major scientific advances that have led to our current understanding and medical use of digoxin. From ancient wisdom and William Withering’s careful chronicling of the therapeutic benefits and side effects of the common botanical foxglove in dropsy, which still hold true today, to the discovery of its mode of action and eventual rise to become a staple in the management of heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) in the pre-angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor era. In parallel, the authors highlight a more macabre side to the digoxin story, including issues with

The patients who developed cardiotoxicity were treated with beta blockers (carvedilol), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (enalapril) or angiotensin receptor blockers (valsartan), aldosterone antagonists (eplerenone), digitalis and diuretics (furosemide), as needed. When patients remained symptomatic and met the PARADIGM-HF inclusion criteria, sacubitril/valsartan was started instead of enalapril or valsartan. Results showed that sacubitril/valsartan therapy produced an improvement in ventricular remodelling, diastolic dysfunction, and on symptoms, reflected in the New York Heart Association class and the six-minute walk test. The auth