Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026
08:56
Sterile Pericarditis in Aachener Minipigs As a Model for Atrial Myopathy and Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: September 24, 2021
[Digitalis and theophylline: old and superfluous?].
1Abteilung für Innere Medizin und Akutgeriatrie, Landeskrankenhaus Hochzirl, Zirl, Österreich.
Zeitschrift Fur Gerontologie Und Geriatrie
|June 20, 2013
Summary
Digitalis and theophylline, old cardiopulmonary drugs, have inconsistent evidence, especially in geriatric medicine. Their use in heart failure and COPD is debated due to potential risks in the elderly.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Geriatric Medicine
- Cardiopulmonary Diseases
Context:
- Digitalis and theophylline are established treatments for cardiopulmonary conditions.
- Evidence supporting their efficacy is inconsistent and sometimes contradictory.
- Geriatric medicine presents a unique challenge due to potential risks in older adults.
Purpose:
- To critically evaluate the current evidence for digitalis and theophylline in treating cardiopulmonary diseases.
- To explore the specific challenges and controversies surrounding their use in geriatric patients.
- To provide a literature-based discussion on the risks versus benefits in elderly populations.
Summary:
- This review examines the historical and current evidence for digitalis and theophylline in cardiopulmonary disease management.
- It highlights the conflicting data regarding their efficacy, particularly in treating advanced heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease symptoms.
- The paper specifically addresses the concerns of potentially inappropriate medication use in the elderly.
Impact:
- This discussion aims to inform clinical decision-making regarding the use of these traditional medications in older adults.
- It emphasizes the need for careful consideration of evidence and patient-specific factors in geriatric pharmacotherapy.
- The findings contribute to the ongoing debate on optimizing treatment strategies for cardiopulmonary diseases in the elderly.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Heart Failure Drugs: Inotropic Agents
Positive inotropic agents are commonly used as the first line of treatment for heart failure. One such agent is digoxin, derived from the genus Digitalis, which has been known for centuries but effectively utilized since 1785. However, these cardiac glycosides can have potentially toxic effects due to their mechanism of action, which involves inhibiting Na+/K+-ATPase and increasing contractility. Digoxin is absorbed orally and distributed in various tissues, including the CNS. It has a long...
01:24Antiasthma Drugs: Methylxanthines
Theophylline, a member of the methylxanthine class of bronchodilators, has long been used in asthma management. While its exact mechanism of action is not fully understood, it is believed to have multiple effects on various cellular processes.
Theophylline is thought to inhibit phosphodiesterase enzymes, increasing intracellular levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). This rise in cAMP and cGMP concentrations stimulates cardiac function,...
Theophylline is thought to inhibit phosphodiesterase enzymes, increasing intracellular levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). This rise in cAMP and cGMP concentrations stimulates cardiac function,...
01:30Heart Failure V: Medical Management
Medical Management of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF)The primary goals of therapy for patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) include:Relieving symptomsOptimizing volume statusSupporting oxygenation and ventilationMaintaining cardiac output (CO) and end-organ perfusionIdentifying and addressing the cause of ADHFPreventing complicationsProviding patient education on factors precipitating HF exacerbationPlanning for dischargeOngoing monitoring and assessment...
01:12Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class III Agents as Potassium Channel Blockers
Class III antiarrhythmic drugs are a group of medications that can prolong action potentials in the heart. They achieve this by blocking potassium channels or enhancing inward currents from sodium channels. However, these drugs have a unique property of "reverse use-dependence," which is most pronounced at slower heart rates and can lead to torsades de pointes—a specific type of arrhythmia. However, it is essential to note that excessive QT interval prolongation—a measure of the heart's...
01:15Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
01:20Desensitization and Tachyphylaxis
Tachyphylaxis is described as a rapid decrease in response to a drug after repeated or continuous administration of the same drug dose. It is a phenomenon where the body becomes less responsive to a particular substance or intervention over time, requiring higher doses or stronger interventions to achieve the same effect. It results from adaptive changes in the body's receptors, signaling pathways, or physiological processes that occur in response to prolonged exposure to a stimulus.
Several...
Several...