Antiarrhythmics Flashcards
What drug is classified as Cardiac Glycosides?
Digoxin.
What is the MOA of Digoxin?
Inhibits Na-K ATPase, promotes increased force of cardiac contractions, cardiac output, and tissue perfusion, decreases ventricular rate
What is Digoxin used for?
Heart Failure, and A-Fib.
What are the contraindications of Digoxin?
Hypersensitivity, and V-FIB
What are the side effects of Digoxin?
Dizziness, mental disturbances, diarrhea, headache, nausea, vomiting, weakness, confusion
What are the administration instructions of Digoxin?
Administer slowly by direct IV injection over minimum of 5 mins, tablet and oral solution
What should a nurse teach to a patient taking Digoxin?
In Heart Failure, higher dosages give no additional benefit and can increase toxicity.
Decreased renal clearance may lead to increased toxicity.
In geriatric patients, use lean body weight to calculate dose.
What is another name for digoxin?
Digitalis
What are the actions/intended effects of Digoxin?
Positive inotropic: Increases myocardial contraction stroke volume.
Negative chronotropic: Decreases heart rate
Negative dromotropic: decreases conduction of heart cells.
What is the half life of Digoxin?
30-40 hours
What are some common signs of Digitalis?
Anorexia, diarrhea, n/v, bradycardia, PVCs, heart block, HA, malaise, confusion, delirium, visual illusions.
What does DIG stand for?
D= Digoxin levels greater than 2ng/mL is toxic
I = increases myocardial contractility
G = GI or CNS signs indicate adverse effects
What is the antidote of Digoxin?
Digoxin-Immune fab; Binds with digoxin and gets excreted in urine
What drug interactions would place a patient with digoxin for risk of toxicity?
Diuretics: Furosemide and hydrochlorothiazide can cause potassium loss which increases effect of digoxin at myocardial cell sites.
Cortisone: Promotes sodium retention and potassium excretion
Antacids: decreases absorption if taken together.
What should a nurse assess for before giving Digoxin?
Signs of toxicity, if HR < 60 hold and call provider, , obtain apical pulse, drug/herbal history, evaluate for risk for hypokalemia, edema/HF signs
What should the nurse teach to a patient on Digoxin?
Check pulse daily before taking digoxin, eat foods high in potassium
What lab values should a nurse monitor for a patient on digoxin?
Serum digoxin and potassium levels
If a patient on digoxin has a HR < 60, what should the nurse do?
Hold the drug and call the provider
What drug is classified as a Phosphodiesterase inhibitor>
Milrinone Lactate
What are the actions of Milrinone Lactate?
Inhibits PDE, increases myocardial contraction stroke volume and vasodilation, and cardiac output