Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Digitalis in the elderly.

M Chellingsworth

Journal of Clinical and Hospital Pharmacy

|February 1, 1986

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Digitalis preparations are commonly used in elderly patients, but their effectiveness is debated due to potential toxicity and the availability of newer treatments for heart conditions.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Use of interferon beta 1b for multiple sclerosis. Patients will put up with side effects because of their desire to beat the disease.

BMJ (Clinical research ed.)·1996

Same author

Prevention and management of steroid-induced osteoporosis.

British journal of hospital medicine·1994

Same author

The destination and dependency of patients discharged from care of the elderly units in the West Midlands.

Health trends·1989

Same author

Calcium antagonists and the kidney.

Journal of human hypertension·1987

Same author

The treatment of hypertension in the elderly.

Postgraduate medical journal·1986

Same author

Progressive systemic sclerosis, immunosuppression and necrotising arteritis: cause or effect?

Clinical rheumatology·1985

Same journal

Chemical stabilities of lignocaine hydrochloride and phenylephrine hydrochloride in aqueous solution.

Journal of clinical and hospital pharmacy·1986

Same journal

A comparison of graphical nomogram methods with a computerized Bayesian analysis method in the interpretation of serum phenytoin concentrations.

Journal of clinical and hospital pharmacy·1986

Same journal

Therapeutic progress--review XXIII. Are we making progress in the treatment of acute stroke?

Journal of clinical and hospital pharmacy·1986

Same journal

Therapeutic progress--review XXIII. Morphine analgesia in terminal care.

Journal of clinical and hospital pharmacy·1986

Same journal

The therapy of genital warts.

Journal of clinical and hospital pharmacy·1986

Same journal

Recent advances in pharmaceutical chemistry--review II. Histamine H2-receptor antagonists.

Journal of clinical and hospital pharmacy·1986

See all related articles

Area of Science:

Cardiology
Geriatrics
Pharmacology

Background:

Digitalis has a long history, first described by William Withering over 200 years ago.
Digitalis preparations are frequently prescribed for elderly patients.
Studies indicate a high prevalence of digitalis use and toxicity in hospital in-patients.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the current value of cardiac glycosides in treating elderly patients.
To address the controversy surrounding digitalis use in geriatric populations.

Main Methods:

Literature review of studies on digitalis use and toxicity in the elderly.
Analysis of survey data on digitalis prescription rates in different age groups.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

Surveys show a significant percentage of elderly individuals use digitalis preparations.
While digitalis use is common, its toxicity is also noted, though not consistently linked to age.
Newer, effective treatments for heart failure and atrial arrhythmias are now available.

Conclusions:

The established role of cardiac glycosides in elderly care is being questioned.
The advent of advanced diuretics, vasodilators, and antiarrhythmics challenges the continued widespread use of digitalis.
Further evaluation is needed to determine the optimal place for digitalis in modern geriatric cardiology.