To determine if the amount of digoxin in your blood is at an appropriate level or to detect potentially toxic levels
Soon after the start of digoxin therapy and at regular intervals to ensure that drug levels are within the desired range and are not low or at toxic concentrations.
A blood sample collected from a vein in your arm.
No special preparation is needed, but timing of the sample for testing is important. When you have your blood taken, tell the healthcare professional when you took your last dose of digoxin. You may want to write down the exact time at which you took your dose and when the blood was taken. This information will be useful if your doctor has any questions about your results.
Digoxin is a drug used to treat abnormal heart rhythms and severe heart failure. This test measures the amount of digoxin in the blood.
Digoxin slows the heart rate and helps to control abnormal heart rhythms know as arrhythmias. Heart failure, including congestive heart failure (CHF) causes the heart to become less effective at circulating blood around the body. As a result, blood accumulates in the legs, hands, feet, lungs and liver, causing swelling, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Digoxin is used to reduce some symptoms of heart failure. It strengthens the contractions of the heart and helps it to pump blood more efficiently.
Digoxin will not cure arrhythmias or heart failure, which are long term conditions, but can, along with diet, exercise, and other medicines, help to manage the symptoms.
Digoxin levels need to be monitored because digoxin is a drug that has a narrow safety range. If the level in the blood is too low, symptoms may recur. If the level is too high, side effects may occur, such as:
dizziness
blurred vision or seeing yellow or green halos
nausea and vomiting
diarrhoea
irregular heartbeat
difficulty breathing
rash
The amount of digoxin you are prescribed may be adjusted based on the results of your blood test.