Lanoxin (Digoxin)

You should not take LANOXIN if you:

• Are allergic to LANOXIN or any of the ingredients in the medication
• Have an irregular heartbeat caused by ventricular fibrillation

Talk to your doctor before taking LANOXIN if you:

• Have any current or previous heart conditions, including heart attack, endocarditis (infections of the heart muscle or in the lining that surrounds the heart), heart failure, or very slow heartbeat
• Have low concentrations of oxygen in the body, a condition known as hypoxia
• Have low levels of potassium or calcium in the blood, which might reduce the effect of LANOXIN
• High levels of calcium or low levels of magnesium in the blood
• Have Beriberi heart disease
• Have thyroid disease

The concentration of LANOXIN in your blood can vary based on many factors and could become dangerous if not kept within a certain range.

Your doctor will probably have you come in for lab work from time to time to monitor your LANOXIN levels.

LANOXIN Use in the Elderly

LANOXIN is considered safe to use in the elderly as long as the dose is no greater than 0.125 milligram (mg) or 125 mcg per day.

As we age, our kidney function changes and normally slows, so our bodies can't get rid of certain substances, like LANOXIN, as quickly as they once could have.

LANOXIN overdose symptoms in elderly are sometimes hard to pinpoint without running laboratory tests. Elderly people taking higher doses of LANOXIN may become delirious or confused and feel weak or tired.

Pregnancy and LANOXIN

LANOXIN should only be taken by pregnant women when the risks outweigh the benefit.

Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or might become pregnant before taking this medication.

LANOXIN has been found to pass into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Common Side Effects of LANOXIN

You should tell your doctor if any of the following side effects become severe or don't go away:

• Dizziness
• Changes in mood and mental alertness, including confusion, depression and lost interest in usual activities
• Anxiety
• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
• Headache
• Rash
• Growth or enlargement of breast tissue in men (gynecomastia)
• Weakness

Serious Side Effects of LANOXIN

You should call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following serious side effects:

• Changes in heart rhythm, including irregular heartbeat
• Fast or racing heartbeat
• Heart stopping or flat-lining (asystole)
• Problems with electrical functioning of the heart known as heart block
• Visual problems, including blurry vision and yellow halos
• Low platelet count

LANOXIN interacts with many drugs. As always, share with your doctor and pharmacist all prescription, non-prescription, illegal, recreational, herbal, nutritional, or dietary drugs you're taking.

You should not take LANOXIN if you are taking any herbal supplements belonging to the squill family, such as white quill or Mediterranean squill.

Before taking LANOXIN, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications:

• Drugs for irregular heartbeat like: Pacerone, Nexterone, or Cordarone (amiodarone), Betapace or Betapace AF (sotalol),Tikosyn (dofetilde), Multaq (dronedarone), procainamide, or flecainide
• Aspirin (both tablet and suppository forms)
• Beta blockers like Zebeta or Ziac (betaxolol),Toprol XL or Lopressor (metoprolol), Tenormin (atenolol), and Bystolic (nebivolol)
• Heartburn medications like Prilosec (omeprazole), Nexium (esomeprazole), Aciphex (rabeprazole), Protonix (pantoprazole), and Dexilant (deslansoprazole)
• Other heartburn medications like Pepcid (famotidine) and Tums (calcium carbonate)
• The herbal supplement Lily of the Valley
• Macrolide antibiotics like Ery-Tab (erythromycin) and Biaxin (clarithromycin)
• Neoral, Sandimmune, and Gengraf (cyclosporine)

LANOXIN and Alcohol

LANOXIN can cause sleepiness, confusion, and problems with balance; drinking while taking LANOXIN could worsen these side effects.

For best results, avoid drinking alcohol while taking LANOXIN.

LANOXIN and Grapefruit Juice

Grapefruit juice can lessen LANOXIN's ability to work.

You should avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking LANOXIN.

Your doctor will draw blood to determine how much LANOXIN you should be taking each day.

This will also determine the maximum amount of LANOXIN you are to receive.

You should be consistent in taking LANOXIN the same time every day.

LANOXIN Overdose

If you suspect an overdose, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately.

In certain situations of severe overdose, medical professionals may give you an antidote to LANOXIN.

Missed Dose of LANOXIN

If you miss a dose of LANOXIN, try to take it as soon as you remember.

If it's less than 12 hours before your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and resume your regular dosing schedule.

Don't take two doses of the medication at the same time.