PROLONGED DIGITOXIN HALF-LIFE IN VERY ELDERLY PATIENTS

Authors
BOHMER T ROSETH A
Citation
T. Bohmer et A. Roseth, PROLONGED DIGITOXIN HALF-LIFE IN VERY ELDERLY PATIENTS, Age and ageing, 27(2), 1998, pp. 222-224
Citations number
16
Categorie Soggetti
Geiatric & Gerontology
Journal title
Age and ageing → ACNP
ISSN journal
00020729
Volume
27
Issue
2
Year of publication
1998
Pages
222 - 224
Database
ISI
SICI code
0002-0729(1998)27:2<222:PDHIVE>2.0.ZU;2-2
Abstract
The digitoxin half-life in elderly patients in the eight and ninth dec ade was more prolonged (mean +/- SD: 25 +/- 9 days) than in younger pe ople (6.7 +/- 1.7). These elderly patients accumulated digitoxin even on a dose of 0.05 mg/day. The symptoms of digitoxin intoxication disap peared on discontinuation of medication. When digitoxin is used in the treatment for heart failure in the very elderly patients, one should be aware of the possibility of digitoxin intoxication, even on a low d ose.