Multiclinical open studies on the effect of beta-methyldigoxin on congestive heart failure with atrial fibrillation

Clinical open trials of beta-methyldigoxin were carried out in 15 institutions in order to examine the effect, usefulness and ease of its oral administration. In the case of oral digitalization with 0.2 mg, 3 times daily, an effect was obtained in all of 13 cases of congestive heart failure accompanied by atrial fibrillation or flutter. The average time and dose required for digitalization were about 50 hours and 1.27 mg respectively. In 9 of the 13 cases, the effect was achieved within 48 hours. The average maintenance does of beta-methyldigoxin in 102 cases of congestive heart failure with atrial fibrillation was 0.177 mg per day. About 75% of the cases were maintained with 0.15 to 0.2 mg. This range of dose of beta-methyldigoxin was much smaller than that of digoxin in our series. This can be ascribed to a higher absorption rate of beta-methyldigoxin from the digestive tract. Studies on the cases in which patients previously treated with other glycosides were switched over to beta-methyldigoxin revealed that 1 mg of beta-methyldigoxin is equivalent to 1.8 mg of digoxin or to 0.59 mg of digitoxin. The usefulness and ease of beta-methyldigoxin in maintenance was evaluated as being somewhat superior to other cardiac glycosides, according to the global judgement of the physicians. The observed side effects were similar to those of other glycosides in frequency and character.