Digoxin (Lanoxin) is a cardiac glycoside that is among the oldest medications used for heart failure.
What are its two primary actions?
Positive chronotropy and negative inotropy.
Negative inotropy and negative chronotropy.
Positive inotropy and negative chronotropy.
Positive inotropy and positive chronotropy.
The Correct Answer is C
Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside that increases the force of heart contractions (positive inotropy) and decreases the heart rate (negative chronotropy) by inhibiting the sodium-potassium ATPase pump in the cardiac cell membranes and affecting the autonomic tone. This helps to improve the symptoms of heart failure and to control the ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation.
Choice A is wrong because positive chronotropy means increasing the heart rate, which is the opposite of what digoxin does.
Choice B is wrong because negative inotropy means decreasing the force of heart contractions, which is also the opposite of what digoxin does.
Choice D is wrong because positive inotropy and positive chronotropy would both increase the workload of the heart, which is not desirable in heart failure or atrial fibrillation.
Normal ranges for digoxin are 0.5 to 2 ng/mL for heart failure and 0.8 to 2 ng/mL for atrial fibrillation. Digoxin has a narrow therapeutic window and can cause serious side effects if overdosed or underdosed.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Antidigoxin is an antidote for digoxin toxicity that binds and inactivates digoxin, a cardiac glycoside that can cause life-threatening arrhythmias, hyperkalemia, and other symptoms when overdosed.Antidigoxin is also known as digoxin immune Fab or DIGIFab.
Choice A, protamine sulfate, is wrong because it is an antidote for heparin, an anticoagulant that can cause bleeding when overdosed.
Choice B, acetylcysteine, is wrong because it is an antidote for acetaminophen, a painkiller that can cause liver damage when overdosed.
Choice D, activated charcoal, is wrong because it is a nonspecific adsorbent that can reduce the absorption of some drugs or poisons from the gastrointestinal tract, but it is not effective for digoxin toxicity.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Propranolol is a beta-blocker that can cause bronchoconstriction and worsen asthma symptoms.
Asthma is a reversible airway disease that is a contraindication for taking propranolol.
Choice A, tachycardia, is not a contraindication for taking propranolol.In fact, propranolol can be used to treat some types of tachycardia, such as atrial fibrillation or supraventricular tachycardia, by slowing down the heart rate.
Choice C, hypertension, is not a contraindication for taking propranolol.Propranolol can be used to treat hypertension by reducing the cardiac output and peripheral resistance.
Choice D, glaucoma, is not a contraindication for taking propranolol.Propranolol does not affect the intraocular pressure or the aqueous humor production.However, some other beta-blockers, such as timolol, can be used to treat glaucoma by lowering the intraocular pressure.
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