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Digitoxin



Digitoxin
Systematic (IUPAC) name
(3β,5β)-3-[(O-2,6-dideoxy-
β-D-ribo-hexapyranosyl-(1->4)-
2,6-dideoxy-β-D-ribo-hexopyranosyl)oxy]-
14-hydroxycard-20(22)-enolide
Identifiers
CAS number 71-63-6
ATC code C01AA04
PubChem 3061
Chemical data
Formula C41H64O13 
Mol. mass 764.939 g/mol
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability  ?
Metabolism  ?
Half life  ?
Excretion  ?
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.

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Legal status
Routes  ?

Digitoxin is a cardiac glycoside. It has similar structure and effects to digoxin (though the effects are longer-lasting). Unlike digoxin (which is eliminated from the body via the kidneys), it is eliminated via the liver, so could be used in patients with poor or erratic kidney function. However, it is now rarely used in current UK medical practice. While there have been several controlled trials which have shown digoxin to be effective in a proportion of patients treated for heart failure, there is not the same strong evidence base for digitoxin, although it is presumed to be similarly effective. [1]


Toxicity

Digitoxin exhibits similar toxic effects to the more-commonly used digoxin, namely: anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, confusion, visual disturbances, and cardiac arrhythmias. Anti-digoxin antibody fragments, the specific treatment for digoxin poisoning, are also effective in serious digitoxin toxicity.[2]


References

  1. ^ Treatment of congestive heart failure--current status of use of digitoxin. Belz GG, Breithaupt-Grogler K and Osowski U. Eur J Clin Invest. 2001;31 Suppl 2:10-7. PMID: 11525233 (accessed 20 Sep 2006)
  2. ^ Treatment of a patient with severe digitoxin intoxication by Fab fragments of anti-digitalis antibodies. Kurowski V, Iven H and Djonlagic H. Intensive Care Med 1992;18(7):439-42. PMID: 1469187 (accessed 19 Sep 2006


 
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Digitoxin". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.
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