Quinidine-digoxin interaction: Pharmacokinetics, underlying mechanism and clinical implications. 1979

W Doering

Administration of quinidine with digoxin increased serum digoxin concentrations in 79 patients and five volunteers. In 38 patients on a constant glycoside maintenance dose, the addition of quinidine to digoxin therapy resulted in a mean 2.5-fold increase (from 0.98 +/- 0.37 to 2.47 +/- 0.71 ng per milliliter, mean +/- 1 S.D.) (P less than 0.001). The addition of quinidine decreased renal glycoside clearance (from 91.6 +/- 27.8 to 40.6 +/- 15.8 ml per minute) (P less than 0.001). Unlike other investigations, our studies provided no evidence that quinidine displaced digoxin at specific cardiac binding sites. The elevated digoxin levels found during quinidine administration suggest a 30 to 50 per cent reduction of the digoxin dose. Adverse reactions to combined quinidine-digoxin therapy may be partly due to digitalis intoxication.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007668 Kidney Body organ that filters blood for the secretion of URINE and that regulates ion concentrations. Kidneys
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009206 Myocardium The muscle tissue of the HEART. It is composed of striated, involuntary muscle cells (MYOCYTES, CARDIAC) connected to form the contractile pump to generate blood flow. Muscle, Cardiac,Muscle, Heart,Cardiac Muscle,Myocardia,Cardiac Muscles,Heart Muscle,Heart Muscles,Muscles, Cardiac,Muscles, Heart
D011802 Quinidine An optical isomer of quinine, extracted from the bark of the CHINCHONA tree and similar plant species. This alkaloid dampens the excitability of cardiac and skeletal muscles by blocking sodium and potassium currents across cellular membranes. It prolongs cellular ACTION POTENTIALS, and decreases automaticity. Quinidine also blocks muscarinic and alpha-adrenergic neurotransmission. Adaquin,Apo-Quinidine,Chinidin,Quincardine,Quinidex,Quinidine Sulfate,Quinora,Apo Quinidine,Sulfate, Quinidine
D004077 Digoxin A cardiotonic glycoside obtained mainly from Digitalis lanata; it consists of three sugars and the aglycone DIGOXIGENIN. Digoxin has positive inotropic and negative chronotropic activity. It is used to control ventricular rate in ATRIAL FIBRILLATION and in the management of congestive heart failure with atrial fibrillation. Its use in congestive heart failure and sinus rhythm is less certain. The margin between toxic and therapeutic doses is small. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p666) Digacin,Digitek,Digoregen,Digoxina Boehringer,Digoxine Nativelle,Dilanacin,Hemigoxine Nativelle,Lanacordin,Lanicor,Lanoxicaps,Lanoxin,Lanoxin-PG,Lenoxin,Mapluxin,Boehringer, Digoxina,Lanoxin PG,Nativelle, Digoxine,Nativelle, Hemigoxine
D004347 Drug Interactions The action of a drug that may affect the activity, metabolism, or toxicity of another drug. Drug Interaction,Interaction, Drug,Interactions, Drug
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

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