Drug Interactions:
Digoxin
Alternate Names
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Digitoxin
Trade Names
•
Crystodigin, Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin
The digitalis drugs digoxin and digitoxin are used for congestive heart failure and other heart conditions. The concerns described below apply equally to both medications.
Magnesium
Supplementation Possibly Helpful, but Take at a Different Time of Day
Magnesium deficiency can increase the risk of toxicity from digoxin.12 However, taking magnesium supplements at the same time as digoxin might impair the absorption of the drug.5 The solution? Do not take your magnesium supplement during the 2 hours before or after your digoxin dose.
Calcium
Supplementation Possibly Helpful
Although the evidence is quite weak, digoxin might cause a tendency toward calcium deficiency.6 Taking calcium supplements couldn't hurt.
Hawthorn
Possible Increased Action of Drug
Because hawthorn has effects on the heart somewhat similar to those of digoxin, you shouldn't combine the two treatments except under the supervision of a physician.
Licorice
Possible Dangerous Interaction
Licorice root can lower potassium levels in the body, which can be dangerous for an individual taking digoxin.7,8 The special form of licorice known as DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) is a deliberately altered form of the herb that should not affect potassium levels.
Eleutherococcus senticosus
Possible Interaction
There has been one report of an apparent elevation in digoxin level caused by the herb Eleutherococcus senticosus ("Siberian ginseng").9 However, the details of the case suggest that ginseng might actually have interfered with a test for digoxin, rather than the digoxin levels themselves.
Horsetail
Possible Dangerous Interaction
Because horsetail can deplete the body of potassium, it may not be safe to combine this herb with digitalis drugs.10
St. John's Wort
Possible Reduction of Effectiveness of Drug
Evidence suggests that St. John's wort may interact with digoxin, possibly requiring an increased dosage to maintain the proper effect.11,12 Conversely, if you are taking St. John's wort already and your physician adjusts your dose of medication, suddenly stopping the herb could cause blood levels of the drug to rise dangerously high.
View References
Last reviewed March 2002 by Medical Review Board
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