Abstract
DIGITOXIN has a long half-life and is associated with a substantial incidence of toxicity. 1,2 It is partially excreted in the bile and later reabsorbed, contributing to its long half-life. 1,2 A nonabsorbable agent that binds digitoxin in the gut should help speed its disappearance from the serum. Cholestyramine resin, an ion exchange resin used for some hyperlipoproteinemias, appears to be such an agent. Several reports have described such a digitoxin-binding effect in animals. 3,4 This property, however, has received scant study in the digitoxin-intoxicated patient. 4-7 Recently, we encountered a patient with clinical, laboratory, and ECG evidence of digitoxin toxicity. Digitoxin elimination was studied before, during, and after administration of cholestyramine resin. The resin resulted in an accelerated elimination of digitoxin and would appear to be a valuable adjunct in therapy of patients with digitoxin toxicity. Report of a Case A 72-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency room
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
