Quinidine enhances digitalis toxicity at therapeutic serum digoxin levels

Objective : To determine the effect of the digoxin‐quinidine interaction on rate of in‐hospital digitalis toxicity. Methods : This was a prospective observational study over 9 months, set in two general medical wards. We studied consecutive patients ( n = 141) who were receiving digoxin. Measurements included digitalis toxicity, defined by ECG criteria and resolution after stopping digoxin; all additional medications (including antiarrhythmics) continued. The observer was “blinded” to serum digoxin level and to concomitant drugs. Results : Digitalis toxicity rates were as follows: digoxin alone, 4.9% (5 of 101 patients); with amiodarone or verapamil, 5.0% (1 of 20 patients); with quinidine, 50% (10 of 20 patients) ( p < 0.01). No toxicity was seen at digoxin levels <1.0 ng/ml. Toxicity at 1.0 to 2.0 ng/ml was as follows: digoxin alone, 1 of 41 patients; with quinidine, 4 of 15 patients ( p = 0.014). Toxicity was similar at levels >2.0 ng/ml: 4 of 8 patients and 7 of 11 patients, respectively. Independent relative risks and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of digitalis toxicity were as follows: serum digoxin, 9.1 (95% CI, 2.9 to 13.0); concurrent quinidine, 24.3 (95% CI, 3.4 to 124). There was a significant ( p < 0.01) interaction between concurrent quinidine, serum digoxin of 1.0 to 2.0 ng/ml, and digitalis toxicity. Conclusion : The digoxin‐quinidine interaction significantly increases digitalis toxicity, even in the therapeutic range of serum digoxin levels. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1993) 53, 457—462; doi: 10.1038/clpt.1993.51