[Learning Points]

1. Digoxin Increases cardiac contractility, reduce the heart rhythm and improve heart pumping function.
2. Please take that medicine Once a day at the same time each day.
3. Take medicine as prescribed doses. Do not take more or miss doses.

         Increase cardiac contractility, reduce the heart rhythm and improve heart pumping function.

    II. How to take Digoxin?

1. Once a day, please take that medicine at the same time each day. 
2. Take digoxin after meals for keep blood concentration stable.
3. Check the concentration of digoxin after 8–24 hours of the last medication. So we suggest that take medicine at night and do blood tests next day.
   
4. Take medicine as prescribed doses. Do not take more or miss doses.
   

        If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible.

     IV. Treatment principles of the side effect.

1. If you feel fainting, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness, predominance of yellow vision（all objects appear yellow halos around lights）,etc.
2. Measure your pulse rate before taking the medicine each time, if it is lower than 60 beats per minute, please suspend the medicine for the day.
   
3. If the pulse rate is less than 60 beats per minute, combine dizziness, chest tightness, chest pain, night sweats, fainting and cold limbs, please seek medical assistance.

    X. How to check heart rate?

           Please measure the pulse rate for one minute ?by hand each time and record it for assessment.

(Photographed by myself)

Check radial artery pulse

     VI. Precautions with combining meal and medicine.

• If taking with diuretics(ex: furosemide, metolazone), that will cause hypokalemia, if you feel weakness, palpitation, confusion of consciousness, that may be the unstable signs of potassium concentration, if the symptoms do not improve, return to hospital immediately. Have food rich of potassium for hypokalemia（orange, tangerine, banana, vegetables).
• Some medicines such as antacids, medicine for flu, cough, allergy, etc., will affect the efficacy of digoxin, please inform your doctor that you are taking digoxin for adjusting the medicine.
• Do not take some Chinese medicine or herbs together, which will cause the drug interaction with digoxin, like "To save the heart", "Ginseng", "Licorice", "Plantain", "Hawthorn". If you want to take it, please let the doctor know first.