What should be the nursing considerations with the administration of digoxin Lanoxin?
What should be the nursing considerations with the administration of digoxin Lanoxin?
Nursing Considerations Across the Lifespan Serum digoxin levels should be monitored, with a normal therapeutic range from 0.8 to 2 ng/mL. Serum potassium levels should also be closely monitored for patients on digoxin because hypokalemia increases the effect of digoxin and can result in digoxin toxicity.
What should the nurse assess prior to administering digoxin Lanoxin )?
A nurse should assess the apical pulse for a full minute before administering digoxin due to its positive inotropic action (it increases contractility, stroke volume, and, thus, cardiac output), negative chronotropic action (it decreases heart rate), and negative dromotropic action (it decreases electrical conduction …
What should a nurse do with digoxin toxicity?
An additional nursing intervention to guard against digoxin toxicity is to assess the apical pulse for one full minute before administering digoxin. Hold the next dose and contact the physician if the apical pulse is less than 60 or more than 120 beats per minute.
What should be monitored when taking digoxin?
Digoxin is primarily cleared from the body by the kidneys. If you have kidney problems, your healthcare provider may want to monitor kidney function and blood potassium levels since kidney dysfunction and low levels of potassium can result in symptoms of digoxin toxicity.
What are the side effects of Lanoxin?
Nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, loss of appetite, and diarrhea may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.
How often should digoxin be monitored?
When should I measure digoxin for therapeutic drug monitoring? ✓ Only measure digoxin level 6-10 days after initiation of therapy or following a dose change to insure serum concentration reflects steady state. ✓ Be sure to draw the sample at least 6-8 hours after the last dose to avoid falsely elevated serum levels.
What are the side effects of digitalis?
Common side effects
- Feeling confused, dizzy or generally unwell.
- Feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting) and loss of appetite.
- Diarrhoea.
- Changes in your vision (including blurred vision and not being able to look at bright light)
- Skin rashes.
Why is Lanoxin given?
Lanoxin Tablets contains the active substance digoxin, which belongs to a group of medicines called cardiac glycosides. It is used to treat arrhythmias and heart failure. An arrhythmia is an irregularity in the heart-beat, which causes the heart to skip a beat, beat irregularly or beat at the wrong speed.
