Patient/caregiver was instructed upon therapeutic uses and mechanism of action of Lanoxin as follows:
- Lanoxin is a medication used mainly to increase the force of cardiac contraction, in individuals with history of congestive heart failure.
- Lanoxin increases the availability of sodium ion within the cardiac muscle cells, which eventually is exchanged for calcium ion. Thus, the level of calcium ions increase within the cell.
- Calcium ion plays a significant role in cardiac muscle contraction. Increased calcium ion concentration within the cardiac muscle cell, secondary to Lanoxin use, helps increase the force of cardiac contraction.
- By increasing the force of cardiac contraction, Lanoxin improves the pumping action of the heart, thus allowing more blood to be moved forward into the circulation.
- This reduces the fluid back up in the lungs and extremities, which contributes to reducing edema, improving shortness of breath, improving gas exchange and breath sounds.
- Improved cardiac contraction with Lanoxin use can result in improved blood supply and oxygen delivery to the end organs, such as, heart, brain, and kidneys.
- Thus, Lanoxin helps with reducing the risk for heart attack and stroke. Also Lanoxin, by improving the blood supply to the kidneys, slows down the progression of renal failure in individuals with compromised renal function and promotes renal function.
- Lanoxin also helps with controlling the rapid heart rate and arrhythmias, in patients with history of atrial fibrillation and thus, can be used to restore normal heart rhythm. By reducing the rapid heart rate in atrial fibrillation, Lanoxin also helps with reducing the risk for clot and emboli formation.
