Premium
The need for reassessment of digoxin prescribing for the elderly.
Author(s) -
Nolan L.,
Kenny R.,
O'Malley K.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
british journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.216
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1365-2125
pISSN - 0306-5251
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1989.tb05378.x
Subject(s) - digoxin , medicine , atrial fibrillation , sinus rhythm , normal sinus rhythm , cardiology , heart failure
1. The prevalence and circumstance of digoxin prescribing was assessed in five private nursing homes. 2. Forty‐one patients (21% residents) were taking digoxin. 3. Seventeen patients were in atrial fibrillation and the remainder in sinus rhythm. The ventricular rate exceeded 100 beats min‐1 in eight of the 17 patients in atrial fibrillation. 4. Thirty‐seven patients were prescribed 0.0625 mg digoxin daily and serum digoxin concentrations were subtherapeutic in 20 of 32 patients in whom concentrations were measured. 5. These data indicate a need for more careful review of the need for maintenance digoxin and illustrate the inappropriateness of routinely prescribing very low doses in all elderly patients.