Digoxin why check pulse

Use the tips below as reminders. Check your pulse before you take your digoxin. If your pulse is under 60 beats per minute, wait 5 minutes. Then check your pulse again. If your pulse is normal, take your digoxin.

Don't stop taking digoxin unless your healthcare provider tells you to. This could cause serious problems. Review all prescription medications, including over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements with your doctor to ensure they do not interact with digoxin. If you have a history of kidney problems, you may not be a good candidate for digoxin. Be sure to discuss this with your doctor. Take it as soon as you remember if no more than 12 hours have passed from the time you usually take your digoxin.

The next day, take it at the usual time. Don't take the oose if more than 12 hours have passed from the time you usually take your digoxin. Place your first two fingers on the inside of your wrist, below the base of the thumb.

Press lightly. Count the number of beats for 1 full minute. Digibind is used to treat digoxin toxicity. If there is no improvement in chest pain, emergency services should be obtained by calling or the rapid response team. Signs of toxicity include blurred vision, nausea, and visual impairment such as seeing green and yellow halos. A low potassium level can increase the risk of digoxin toxicity. If a patient has digoxin toxicity, severe bradycardia and even death can occur if not treated promptly.

The normal range for serum potassium is 3. Patients receiving loop diuretics are at high risk of dehydration. Loop diuretics work in the loop of Henle where a great deal of sodium and water are either reabsorbed or eliminated by the kidney tubules. The nurse should assess for the development of dehydration in patients receiving diuretics by monitoring skin and mucus membranes for dryness, blood pressure for hypotension, heart rate for tachycardia, decreased urine output, concentrated urine, and increased serum sodium levels.

All electrolyte levels can be decreased in patients taking loop diuretics, but potassium in particular is at high risk for depletion due to the rapid water loss that occurs. Furosemide can deplete potassium levels, which then increases the risk for developing digoxin toxicity.

Metoprolol is a selective Beta-1 blocker that decreases the heart rate and force of contraction to reduce blood pressure. Be sure to discuss this with your doctor.

Take it as soon as you remember if no more than 12 hours have passed from the time you usually take your digoxin. The next day, take it at the usual time. Don't take the oose if more than 12 hours have passed from the time you usually take your digoxin.

Place your first two fingers on the inside of your wrist, below the base of the thumb. Press lightly. Count the number of beats for 1 full minute. A normal pulse is between 60 and beats per minute. You may need to have your digoxin levels watched. This depends on how well your kidneys are working.

It also depends whether you take medicines that may make the levels of digoxin increase or decrease. You may need the levels checked if you are having side effects from the medicine. Some side effects can be life-threatening if the digoxin levels become higher than normal in your body.

Call your healthcare provider before you take your next dose of digoxin if you have any of these symptoms:. Was this helpful? Yes No Tell us more. Check all that apply.