Generic Lanoxin is used in the treatment of congestive heart failure and certain types of irregular heartbeat.

Generic Lanoxin also slows the electrical conduction between the atria and the ventricles of the heart, and is useful in treating abnormally rapid atrial rhythms such as atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and atrial tachycardia.

Generic Lanoxin improves the strength and efficiency of your heart, which leads to better circulation of blood and reduction of the uncomfortable swelling that is common in people with congestive heart failure. Generic Lanoxin is usually prescribed along with a water pill (to help relieve swelling) and a drug called an ACE inhibitor (to further improve circulation).

Abnormally rapid atrial rhythms can be caused by heart attacks, excessive thyroid hormones, alcoholism, infections, and many other conditions. During rapid atrial rhythms, electrical signals from the atria cause rapid contractions of the ventricles. Rapid ventricle contractions are inefficient in delivering oxygen and nutrients to the body, causing symptoms of weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness, and even chest pain.

Generic Lanoxin alleviates these symptoms by blocking the electrical conduction between the atria and ventricles, thus slowing ventricle contractions.

Your doctor will determine your dosage based on several factors:

• the disease being treated,
• your body weight,
• your kidney function,
• your age, and
• other diseases you have or drugs you are taking.

If you are receiving Generic Lanoxin for the first time, you may be rapidly digitalized (a larger first dose may be taken, followed by smaller maintenance doses), or gradually digitalized (maintenance doses only), depending on your doctors recommendation.

Adults

If your doctor feels you need rapid digitalization, your first few doses may be given intravenously. Youll then be switched to tablets or capsules for long-term maintenance. A typical maintenance dose might be a 0.125 milligram or 0.25 milligram tablet once daily, but individual requirements vary widely. The exact dose will be determined by your doctor, based on your needs.

Children

Infants and young children usually have their daily dose divided into smaller doses; children over age 10 need adult dosages in proportion to body weight as determined by your doctor.

Generic Lanoxin overdose:
Suspected overdoses of Generic Lanoxin must be treated immediately; you should contact your doctor or emergency room without delay.

Symptoms of Generic Lanoxin overdose include:
Abdominal pain, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat, loss of appetite, nausea, very slow pulse, vomiting

In infants and children, irregular heartbeat is the most common sign of overdose.

Individuals over 60 years of age should watch for the symptoms of toxic build up, including: agitation, confusion, delusions, depression, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, headache, lethargy, nervousness, trouble reading. If these symptoms are noticed, contact your doctor.

Post-menopausal women may experience cornification of the vagina. This has been mistaken for endometrial cancer, and any symptoms indicating such a condition should be investigated as a possible drug reaction.

The following medicines may increase the blood level of Generic Lanoxin:-

• ACE inhibitors, eg captopril
• alprazolam
• amiodarone
• atorvastatin
• carvedilol
• ciclosporin
• diltiazem
• itraconazole
• macrolide-type antibiotics, eg azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin
• nifedipine
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), eg indometacin, diclofenac, ibuprofen
• propafenone
• propantheline
• quinidine
• quinine
• spironolactone
• telmisartan
• trimethoprim or co-trimoxazole
• verapamil.

If you are prescribed any of these medicines while taking Generic Lanoxin your doctor may need to monitor your digoxin level and may decrease your Generic Lanoxin dose if necessary.

The following medicines may reduce the absorption of Generic Lanoxin from the gut, which may reduce its blood level and make it less effective:

• acarbose
• antacids (avoid effect by not taking an antacid within one to two hours of your Generic Lanoxin)
• cholestyramine (avoid effect by taking cholestyramine at least one and a half to two hours after the Generic Lanoxin)
• metoclopramide
• neomycin
• sucralfate
• sulfasalazine.

The following medicines may also reduce the blood level of Generic Lanoxin:

• penicillamine
• phenytoin
• rifampicin

There is an increased risk of Generic Lanoxin side effects if the level of potassium in your blood falls during treatment. Medicines that can lower blood potassium include the following:

• thiazide diuretics, eg bendrofluazide
• loop diuretics, eg furosemide (frusemide)
• acetazolamide
• corticosteroids
• carbenoxolone
• beta-2-agonists for asthma, eg salbutamol.

There is potential for the heart rate to be excessively slowed if Generic Lanoxin is taken with a beta-blocker.

Special precautions if you are pregnant or breast feeding
No studies of Generic Lanoxin have been performed during pregnancy, though no birth defects have been reported from its use. Speak to your doctor if you are, or are planning to become, pregnant.

Generic Lanoxin may pass into breast milk. Nursing should be discontinued if unwanted side effects develop.

Special Warnings about Generic Lanoxin
Generic Lanoxin may reduce your ability to drive or operate machinery safely. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how Generic Lanoxin affects you and you are sure it wont affect your performance.

During treatment with Generic Lanoxin you should have regular blood tests to monitor your kidney function and the levels of salts (electrolytes), particularly potassium, in your blood.

If the level of potassium in your blood drops too low (hypokalaemia) the risk of side effects from Generic Lanoxin is increased. You should make sure you include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet to avoid this.

Generic Lanoxin should not be taken by people with the heart irregularity known as ventricular fibrillation.

Generic Lanoxin should not be used, alone or with other drugs, for weight reduction. Generic Lanoxin can cause irregular heartbeat and other dangerous, even fatal, reactions.

Possible side effects of Generic Lanoxin
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with Generic Lanoxin.

Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using Generic Lanoxin will experience that or any side effect.

• Headache
• Diarrhoea
• Fatigue
• Skin rashes
• Abnormal heart beats (arrhythmias)
• Blockade of the electrical pathways which control the pumping action of the heart (heart block)
• Dizziness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Slow heart rate (bradycardia)
• Abnormal enlargement of breasts in men (gynaecomastia) with long term use of medication
• Weakness or loss of strength (asthenia)
• A general feeling of being unwell (malaise)
• Confusion
• Visual disturbances