Acetyldigitoxin in therapy of ambulatory patients with congestive heart failure.

Abstract

• Dosages of acetyldigitoxin required for initial digitalization and for subsequent maintenance were determined by oral administration of the drug to ambulatory adult patients with congestive heart failure of recent onset. The digitalizing dose as determined in 31 patients ranged from 0.8 mg. in 24 hours to 3.2 mg. in 120 hours or more and averaged 1.6 to 2.0 mg. in 48 to 72 hours. The drug was usually given in doses of 0.2 mg. three or four times a day. The maintenance dose was determined in 38 patients and was found to range from 0.05 to 0.2 mg. per day. Acetyldigitoxin was shown to be a useful form of digitalis on the basis of margin of safety, rapid reversibility of toxic manifestations, and effectiveness in ambulatory patients with congestive heart failure.