Pharmacological Management

Digoxin

Digoxin is indicated in patients with heart failure (HF), in combination with ACE inhibitors (or angiotensin II receptor blockers), beta-blockers and other appropriate therapies.¹

In the post-MI setting, digoxin may be prescribed for patients with HF due to atrial fibrillation or left ventricular dysfunction.

In patients with HF and atrial fibrillation, digoxin can be used to control heart rate in addition, or prior, to beta-blocker therapy.¹ In the longer term, beta-blockers are preferred for rate control, but may be used in combination with digoxin. Monotherapy with digoxin is not usually sufficient to maintain rate control during exercise.¹

In patients with HF and left ventricular ejection fraction ≤45%, digoxin has been shown to significantly reduce the incidence of hospitalisation, but not to prolong survival.²