Pharmacokinetics of digoxin administered to horses with congestive heart failure.
Abstract: Nine horses with (naturally acquired) congestive heart failure were treated with 2.2 micrograms of digoxin/kg of body weight by the IV route, followed by 11 micrograms/kg administered orally every 12 hours thereafter. Furosemide was administered IV concurrently with IV administered digoxin every 12 hours. Serum concentration of digoxin was measured after the first (IV) and seventh (orally administered) dose. After IV administration, digoxin disposition was described by a 2-compartment model, with a rapid distribution phase (t1/2 alpha = 0.17 hour), followed by a slower elimination phase (beta = 0.096 +/- 0.055 h-1, t1/2 beta = 7.2 hours, where beta is the exponential term from the elimination phase of the concentration vs time curve). Bioavailability after oral administration was 21.2 +/- 10.8%. After the seventh orally administered dose, serum concentration of digoxin peaked 1 to 2 hours later, and was 1.9 +/- 0.7 ng/ml (mean +/- SD). In 4 horses, a second increase in serum digoxin concentration was observed 4 to 8 hours after the initial peak, which possibly was evidence of enterohepatic recycling of the drug. Response to treatment included reduction in heart rate, peripheral edema, and pulmonary edema, but these could not be attributed to the digoxin alone because the horses were treated concurrently with furosemide.
Publication Date: 1993-07-01 PubMed ID: 8368606
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research paper details a study that examined the efficiency of digoxin in treating horses with congestive heart failure. The effects of the drug were studied after administering it through intravenous and oral routes concurrently with furosemide.
Digoxin Treatment Procedure
- The study involved nine horses diagnosed with naturally acquired congestive heart failure.
- They were treated with digoxin, a medication often used to improve heart function. The initial dose administered was 2.2 micrograms per kilogram of the horse’s body weight through the intravenous route.
- Afterward, an amount of 11 micrograms per kilogram was given orally every twelve hours.
- Alongside the digoxin, the horses also received furosemide intravenously. Furosemide is a diuretic often used to treat heart failure as well.
Digoxin Absorption and Effect Observations
- The research measured the concentration of digoxin in the serum after administering the first intravenous dose and the seventh oral dose.
- Following the intravenous administration, the digoxin showed a two-compartment model disposition. Firstly a rapid distribution phase occurred (0.17 hours half-life), followed by a slower elimination stage (7.2 hours half-life).
- The bioavailability of the drug after oral administration was observed to be 21.2% with a standard deviation of 10.8%.
- One to two hours after the seventh dose administered orally, there was a peak in serum digoxin concentration. It was 1.9 ng/ml on average.
- Interestingly, in four horses, there was a second peak in serum digoxin concentration four to eight hours after the first peak. This suggested the possibility of the drug undergoing enterohepatic recycling.
Treatment Response
- Treatment response was judged based on various factors such as a reduction in heart rate, reduction in peripheral edema (swelling caused by fluid accumulation), and pulmonary edema (fluid accumulation in the lungs).
- While these areas showed improvement, it was hard to attribute the success solely to digoxin because the horses received furosemide treatment concurrently.
Cite This Article
APA
Sweeney RW, Reef VB, Reimer JM.
(1993).
Pharmacokinetics of digoxin administered to horses with congestive heart failure.
Am J Vet Res, 54(7), 1108-1111.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square 19348.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biological Availability
- Digoxin / blood
- Digoxin / pharmacokinetics
- Digoxin / therapeutic use
- Furosemide / therapeutic use
- Half-Life
- Heart Failure / blood
- Heart Failure / drug therapy
- Heart Failure / veterinary
- Horse Diseases
- Horses
- Least-Squares Analysis
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Tharwat M, Al-Sobayil F. Influence of the cardiac glycoside digoxin on cardiac troponin I, acid-base and electrolyte balance, and haematobiochemical profiles in healthy donkeys (Equus asinus).. BMC Vet Res 2014 Mar 12;10:64.
- Ben Reguiga M, Bonhomme-Faivre L, Orbach-Arbouys S, Farinotti R. Modification of the P-glycoprotein dependent pharmacokinetics of digoxin in rats by human recombinant interferon-alpha.. Pharm Res 2005 Nov;22(11):1829-36.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
