Effect of digoxin on physical performance in healthy man

The effect of digoxin on the maximal oxygen uptake, the heart rate reaction during submaximal and maximal bicycle exercise and the isokinetic skeletal muscle strength in the thigh was investigated in nine well-trained healthy young men. A daily dose of digoxin of 0.50 mg for 2 weeks, giving a steady state serum digoxin concentration of 1.0 +/- 0.2 nmol/l, did not significantly change maximal oxygen uptake or isokinetic muscle strength. However, the heart rate at rest and during exercise, both at submaximal and maximal levels, decreased significantly during digoxin administration.