Digoxin
En Español (Spanish Version)
Magnesium
- Supplementation Possibly Helpful, but Take at a Different Time of Day
|
Calcium
- Supplementation Possibly Helpful
|
Hawthorn
- Possible Interaction
|
Licorice
- Possible Dangerous Interaction
|
Eleutherococcus senticosus
- Possible Interaction
|
Horsetail
- Possible Dangerous Interaction
|
St. John's Wort
- Possible Reduction of Effectiveness of Drug
|
Uzara
- Possible Harmful Effect
|
Gingko
biloba - No Interaction
The digitalis drugs digoxin and digitoxin are used for congestive heart failure and other heart conditions. The concerns described below apply equally to both medications.
Supplementation Possibly Helpful, but Take at a Different Time of Day
Magnesium deficiency can increase the risk of toxicity from digoxin.
12
However, taking magnesium supplements at the same time as digoxin might impair the absorption of the drug.
5
The solution? Do not take your magnesium supplement during the two hours before or after your digoxin dose.
Supplementation Possibly Helpful
Although the evidence is quite weak, digoxin might cause a tendency toward calcium deficiency.
6
Taking calcium supplements could not hurt.
Possible Interaction
The herb hawthorn is used to treat congestive heart failure. Whether it is safe to combine hawthorn with digoxin remains unclear. One small study failed to find any harmful interaction, but more research must be done before reliable conclusions can be drawn.
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.
Possible Dangerous Interaction
Licorice root can lower potassium levels in the body, which can be dangerous for an individual taking digoxin.
7,8
The special form of licorice known as DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) is a deliberately altered form of the herb that should not affect potassium levels.
Possible Interaction
There has been one report of an apparent elevation in digoxin level caused by the herb
Eleutherococcus senticosus
(so-called "Siberian ginseng").
9
However, the details of the case suggest that the eleutherococcus product might actually have interfered with a
test
for digoxin, rather than the digoxin levels themselves.
Possible Dangerous Interaction
Because horsetail can deplete the body of potassium, it may not be safe to combine this herb with digitalis drugs.
10
Possible Reduction of Effectiveness of Drug
Evidence suggests that St. John's wort may interact with digoxin, possibly requiring an increased dosage to maintain the proper effect.
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Conversely, if you are taking St. John's wort already and your physician adjusts your dose of medication, suddenly stopping the herb could cause blood levels of the drug to rise dangerously high.
Uzara
Possible Harmful Effect
Uzara root (
Xysmalobium undulatum
) is used to treat diarrhea. It contains substances similar to digoxin, and may cause false readings on tests designed to measure digoxin levels.
14
These substances also might alter (either increase or decrease) the effectiveness of digoxin.
No Interaction
One study found that simulataneous use of the herb
Ginkgo biloba
(80 mg three times daily of the typical standardized extract) does
not
change digoxin levels.
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