Interaction between quinidine and digoxin

JAMA. 1978 Aug 11;240(6):533-4.

Abstract

The serum digoxin concentration increased in 25 of 27 study patients (93%), and the mean serum digoxin concentration rose from 1.4 ng/ml to 3.2 ng/ml during quinidine therapy. Anorexia, nausea, or vomiting developed in 16 patients (59%) but disappeared in all ten patients for whom the digoxin dose alone was reduced, suggesting that digoxin excess caused these symptoms. Ventricular premature depolarizations developed in three patients after starting quinidine therapy; ventricular tachycardia developed in one patient, and another died suddenly. When starting quinidine therapy in patients who are taking digoxin, the clinical course, ECG, and serum digoxin level should be followed closely.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anorexia / chemically induced
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / drug therapy*
  • Digoxin / administration & dosage*
  • Digoxin / adverse effects
  • Digoxin / blood
  • Drug Interactions
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nausea / chemically induced
  • Quinidine / administration & dosage*
  • Quinidine / pharmacology
  • Vomiting / chemically induced

Substances

  • Digoxin
  • Quinidine