Skip to main content
Top
Published in: International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy 5/2013

01-10-2013 | Case Report

Possible digoxin toxicity associated with concomitant ciprofloxacin therapy

Authors: Brady S. Moffett, Santiago O. Valdes, Jeffrey J. Kim

Published in: International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy | Issue 5/2013

Login to get access

Abstract

Case (Description)

A 27 year old female with a complex history of congenital heart disease, cardiac surgery, heart failure, and arrhythmias was admitted for a Pseudomonas aeruginosa sternal wound infection and treated with intravenous antibiotics. After discharge and completion of an outpatient course of intravenous antibiotics, suppressive antibiotic therapy with ciprofloxacin was initiated. She presented to clinic with nausea and anorexia within a few days of addition of ciprofloxacin to her current regimen of medications, which included digoxin. The digoxin was discontinued, with all other medications remaining the same, and the symptoms resolved in 48 h. The dose of digoxin was restarted at 50 % of the previous dose with no further complications. The proposed cause of the nausea and anorexia was digoxin toxicity secondary to a drug–drug interaction with ciprofloxacin.

Conclusion

Patients receiving ciprofloxacin and digoxin should be monitored closely for the risk of digoxin toxicity.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Abad-Santos F, Carcas AJ, Ibanez C, Frias J. Digoxin level and clinical manifestations as determinants in the diagnosis of digoxin toxicity. Ther Drug Monit. 2000;22(2):163–8.PubMedCrossRef Abad-Santos F, Carcas AJ, Ibanez C, Frias J. Digoxin level and clinical manifestations as determinants in the diagnosis of digoxin toxicity. Ther Drug Monit. 2000;22(2):163–8.PubMedCrossRef
2.
go back to reference Gomes T, Mamdani MM, Juurlink DN. Macrolide-induced digoxin toxicity: a population-based study. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2009;86(4):383–6.PubMedCrossRef Gomes T, Mamdani MM, Juurlink DN. Macrolide-induced digoxin toxicity: a population-based study. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2009;86(4):383–6.PubMedCrossRef
3.
go back to reference Naranjo CA, Busto U, Sellers EM, et al. A method for estimating the probability of adverse drug reactions. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1981;30(2):239–45.PubMedCrossRef Naranjo CA, Busto U, Sellers EM, et al. A method for estimating the probability of adverse drug reactions. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1981;30(2):239–45.PubMedCrossRef
4.
go back to reference Horn JR, Hansten PD, Chan LN. Proposal for a new tool to evaluate drug interaction cases. Ann Pharmacother. 2007;41(4):674–80.PubMedCrossRef Horn JR, Hansten PD, Chan LN. Proposal for a new tool to evaluate drug interaction cases. Ann Pharmacother. 2007;41(4):674–80.PubMedCrossRef
5.
go back to reference Hirata S, Izumi S, Furukubo T, et al. Interactions between clarithromycin and digoxin in patients with end-stage renal disease. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2005;43(1):30–6.PubMedCrossRef Hirata S, Izumi S, Furukubo T, et al. Interactions between clarithromycin and digoxin in patients with end-stage renal disease. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2005;43(1):30–6.PubMedCrossRef
6.
go back to reference Constantine PA. Antibiotic therapy and serum digoxin toxicity. Am Fam Physician. 1998;57(6):1239–40.PubMed Constantine PA. Antibiotic therapy and serum digoxin toxicity. Am Fam Physician. 1998;57(6):1239–40.PubMed
8.
go back to reference Tsutsumi K, Kotegawa T, Kuranari M, et al. The effect of erythromycin and clarithromycin on the pharmacokinetics of intravenous digoxin in healthy volunteers. J Clin Pharmacol. 2002;42(10):1159–64.PubMedCrossRef Tsutsumi K, Kotegawa T, Kuranari M, et al. The effect of erythromycin and clarithromycin on the pharmacokinetics of intravenous digoxin in healthy volunteers. J Clin Pharmacol. 2002;42(10):1159–64.PubMedCrossRef
9.
go back to reference American Pharmacists Association. Drug information handbook. 21st ed. Hudson, OH: Lexi-Comp; 2012. American Pharmacists Association. Drug information handbook. 21st ed. Hudson, OH: Lexi-Comp; 2012.
10.
go back to reference Kiran N, Azam S, Dhakam S. Clarithromycin induced digoxin toxicity: case report and review. J Pak Med Assoc. 2004;54(8):440–1.PubMed Kiran N, Azam S, Dhakam S. Clarithromycin induced digoxin toxicity: case report and review. J Pak Med Assoc. 2004;54(8):440–1.PubMed
Metadata
Title
Possible digoxin toxicity associated with concomitant ciprofloxacin therapy
Authors
Brady S. Moffett
Santiago O. Valdes
Jeffrey J. Kim
Publication date
01-10-2013
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy / Issue 5/2013
Print ISSN: 2210-7703
Electronic ISSN: 2210-7711
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-013-9818-4

Other articles of this Issue 5/2013

International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy 5/2013 Go to the issue
Live Webinar | 27-06-2024 | 18:00 (CEST)

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Live: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)

WHO estimates that half of all patients worldwide are non-adherent to their prescribed medication. The consequences of poor adherence can be catastrophic, on both the individual and population level.

Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.

Prof. Kevin Dolgin
Prof. Florian Limbourg
Prof. Anoop Chauhan
Developed by: Springer Medicine
Obesity Clinical Trial Summary

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.

Developed by: Springer Medicine

Highlights from the ACC 2024 Congress

Year in Review: Pediatric cardiology

Watch Dr. Anne Marie Valente present the last year's highlights in pediatric and congenital heart disease in the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.

Year in Review: Pulmonary vascular disease

The last year's highlights in pulmonary vascular disease are presented by Dr. Jane Leopold in this official video from ACC.24.

Year in Review: Valvular heart disease

Watch Prof. William Zoghbi present the last year's highlights in valvular heart disease from the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Watch this official video from ACC.24. Dr. Biykem Bozkurt discusses last year's major advances in heart failure and cardiomyopathies.