Current perspectives on intravenous administration of digoxin

Cardiac glycosides were used as early as the first century A.D. The most commonly prescribed compound of this family is digoxin, because of its relatively short half-life. Intravenous digoxin has high utility 1) for instances in which digitalization must be rapidly accomplished; 2) when oral digitalization is not feasible; and/or 3) as augmentation therapy to other medication protocols. Myocardial uptake of I.V. digoxin is rapid and extensive; yet, serum half-life is approximately 34 hours, the same as in oral administration. Intravenous digoxin can be administered in divided doses every 4 to 8 hours, the 24-hour dose not to exceed 1.0 mg for a 155-pound, or 70.0-kg patient. Awareness of risk factors along with state-of-the-art technology can improve ongoing monitoring of the patient receiving I.V. digoxin.