Drug Groups

approved

Description

Cardioactive derivative of lanatoside A or of digitoxin used for fast digitalization in congestive heart failure.

Indication

Used for fast digitalization in congestive heart failure.

Pharmacology

The main pharmacological effects of acetyldigitoxin are on the heart. Extracardiac effects are responsible for many of the adverse effects. Its main cardiac effects are 1) a decrease of conduction of electrical impulses through the AV node, making it a commonly used drug in controlling the heart rate during atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, and 2) an increase of force of contraction via inhibition of the Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase pump.

Toxicity

Toxicity includes ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, or progressive bradyarrhythmias, or heart block. LD50 = 7.8 mg/kg (orally in mice).

Affected Organisms

Absorption

Bioavailability is 60 to 80% following oral administration.

External Links