What is the therapeutic effect of digoxin?

Digoxin, a cardiac glycoside, is primarily used to treat certain heart conditions, particularly heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Its therapeutic effects are multifaceted. The primary effect of digoxin is to increase the force of myocardial contraction, which is known as positive inotropic effect. This enhancement in contraction strength allows the heart to pump more efficiently, improving cardiac output, especially in patients with weakened heart muscle.

In addition to increasing the force of contraction, digoxin also has a negative chronotropic effect, which means it decreases the heart rate. This effect is particularly beneficial in conditions like atrial fibrillation, where controlling the heart rate is crucial to alleviate symptoms and improve overall heart function.

The combination of these effects—enhancing contraction strength while slowing the heart rate—makes digoxin a valuable medication in managing heart failure and arrhythmias.