[Diltiazem and digoxin interaction. Development of digoxin plasma levels and electrocardiographic parameters in...

In order to determine the interaction between diltiazem and digoxin, plasma digoxin concentrations and the principal ECG parameters (24 hour Holter monitoring) were measured in 10 healthy volunteers under basal conditions (P0), with 0.375 mg/day of digoxin (P1 = 17 days), during association with 240 mg/day of diltiazem (P2 = 17 days) and then again on digoxin alone (P3 = 10 days). The addition of diltiazem was associated with a 20.4% rise in plasma digoxin concentrations (0.59 ng/ml vs 0.49 ng.ml). There was no significant variation of plasma digoxin after withdrawal of diltiazem; in some cases it remained unchanged, in others it fell or continued to rise. During the administration of digoxin and diltiazem, the mean RR period and the duration of the maximal pauses increased (p less than 0.05); the RR interval also increased (p less than 0.01) but the mean QRS duration and the QTc interval did not change significantly with respect to their values on digoxin alone. After withdrawal of diltiazem, the PR interval was the only parameter to decrease significantly (p less than 0.05). These results suggest that patients receiving this drug association should be followed up carefully.