EVALUATING DIGOXIN AND THEOPHYLLINE INTOXICATION IN THE EMERGENCY SETTING

Digoxin anti theophylline, widely prescribed therapeutic drugs, can ca use life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias when overdosed, typically br adycardia (digoxin) or tachycardia (theophylline). The level of drug d oes not always correlate with the severity of illness, Thus, patients are managed differently, depending an whether the overdose is acute or chronic. The clinical laboratory provides quantitative levels for eac h drug that initially help guide patient management, Because several p athophysiologic factors can increase the risk of toxicity, the clinici an often must rely on other laboratory tests, such as electrolytes and renal function, to monitor the patient effectively. This is especiall y true with administration of antidotal therapy in a digoxin overdose.