Question

A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for digoxin. what are manifestations for digoxin toxicity that the nurse should monitor for before administering this medication

Answer 1

Digoxin toxicity is a poisoning that occurs in people due to excessive intake of the medication digoxin or the consumption of plants such as foxglove and lily of the valley that contain digoxin. Manifestations for digoxin toxicity that the nurse should monitor for before administering this medication are vomiting, loss of appetite, confusion, blurred vision, arrhythmias, decreased energy, and irregular heartbeat. The nurse should also closely monitor the electrolyte levels because low levels of potassium and magnesium increase the risk for digoxin toxicity. If digoxin is administered, the heart rate should be counted before every dosage. If the heart rate is lower than 60 beats per minute, the drug should be stopped and the health care professional should be notified.