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Related Concept Videos

Heart Failure Drugs: Inotropic Agents01:26

Heart 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...
Diphtheria01:28

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is an acute, toxin-mediated infectious disease that primarily affects the upper respiratory tract. It is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a Gram-positive, pleomorphic rod that lacks spore-forming capability and exhibits a characteristic club-shaped morphology under microscopic examination. While C. diphtheriae can asymptomatically colonize mucosal surfaces, clinical disease manifests only when the bacterial strain is lysogenized by a specific β-corynephage. This phage...
Toxidromes: Clinical Features01:30

Toxidromes: Clinical Features

Toxidromes are specific patterns of symptoms resulting from toxic substance exposure. They help in the identification and treatment of poisoning. The symptoms of each toxidrome group indicate poisoning by a certain class of chemicals or drugs.1. Sympathomimetic: Stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. Symptoms include agitation, increased heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), respiratory rate (RR), temperature, and pupil size. Drugs like cocaine and amphetamines, along with tremors and...
Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions01:24

Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions

Drug toxicities can be stratified into pharmacological, pathological, or genotoxic based on their mechanisms. The incidence and severity of these toxicities generally increase with the drug's concentration in the body and exposure time.Pharmacological toxicity is evident when the therapeutic effects of drugs overshoot into adverse reactions in a predictable, dose-dependent manner. Central nervous system (CNS) depression from barbiturates is a classic example, with effects escalating from...
Drug Toxicity: Overview01:00

Drug Toxicity: Overview

Drug toxicity quantifies the harm a compound causes to an organism, varying by dose and potentially impacting whole systems or specific organs like the liver. Toxic reactions may arise from venomous insect or spider bites, with effects ranging from mild symptoms to severe outcomes such as brain damage or death. Common forms of acute poisoning include ethanol intoxication and overdose of pain or fever medications, with substances like GHB and heroin being particularly lethal at doses close to...
Drug Toxicity: Risk factors01:24

Drug Toxicity: Risk factors

Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are potential complications that arise during pharmacotherapy, influenced by multiple risk factors. Age plays a significant role; both neonates and the elderly are at heightened risk due to their respective immature and diminished metabolic and elimination processes. Gender also impacts ADRs, with females experiencing a 1.5 to 1.7-fold greater risk than males, which may be linked to pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and hormonal differences. Notably, neonates, the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

A Doxorubicin-Induced Murine Model of Dilated Cardiomyopathy In Vivo
05:14

A Doxorubicin-Induced Murine Model of Dilated Cardiomyopathy In Vivo

Published on: May 16, 2020

[Dangerous Overdose: Myocardial Injury from Digitoxin Intoxication].

Olivia Tausendfreund1, John Michael Hoppe1,2, Markus Wörnle2

  • 1Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, LMU Klinikum, Deutschland, München.

Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)
|July 13, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Digitoxin overdose in an elderly woman caused significant myocardial damage. Prompt treatment with digitalis antitoxin (DigiFab) led to rapid clinical improvement and recovery.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 15, 2026

A Doxorubicin-Induced Murine Model of Dilated Cardiomyopathy In Vivo
05:14

A Doxorubicin-Induced Murine Model of Dilated Cardiomyopathy In Vivo

Published on: May 16, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Clinical Toxicology
  • Cardiology
  • Emergency Medicine

Background:

  • Digitoxin is a cardiac glycoside used to treat heart failure and arrhythmias.
  • Overdose can lead to severe toxicity, including cardiac dysfunction and potentially fatal arrhythmias.
  • Elderly patients may be more susceptible to cardiac glycoside toxicity due to altered pharmacokinetics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a case of severe digitoxin intoxication in an elderly patient following a suicide attempt.
  • To highlight the diagnostic findings and the effectiveness of specific antitoxin therapy.
  • To emphasize the importance of prompt clinical assessment and management in digitoxin overdose.

Main Methods:

  • Case report of an 82-year-old female presenting with symptoms of digitoxin intoxication.
  • Diagnostic evaluation included ECG, serum digitoxin levels, and troponin levels.
  • Therapeutic intervention involved administration of digitalis antitoxin (DigiFab) and intensive care monitoring.

Main Results:

  • The patient presented with nausea, weakness, confusion, ECG abnormalities (AV block, ST-segment scooping), and elevated troponin levels.
  • Serum digitoxin levels were significantly elevated, confirming intoxication.
  • Treatment with DigiFab resulted in rapid clinical improvement, with decreasing digitoxin levels and successful discharge after 8 days.

Conclusions:

  • Digitoxin intoxication can cause substantial myocardial damage, even in the absence of a history of cardiac disease.
  • Digitalis antitoxin (DigiFab) is an effective antidote for severe digitoxin poisoning, leading to rapid reversal of toxicity.
  • Prompt risk assessment, management based on clinical presentation, and timely administration of antidote are crucial for favorable outcomes in digitoxin overdose.