Possible digoxin toxicity associated with concomitant ciprofloxacin therapy

Int J Clin Pharm. 2013 Oct;35(5):673-6. doi: 10.1007/s11096-013-9818-4. Epub 2013 Jul 19.

Abstract

Case (description): A 27 year old female with a complex history of congenital heart disease, cardiac surgery, heart failure, and arrhythmias was admitted for a Pseudomonas aeruginosa sternal wound infection and treated with intravenous antibiotics. After discharge and completion of an outpatient course of intravenous antibiotics, suppressive antibiotic therapy with ciprofloxacin was initiated. She presented to clinic with nausea and anorexia within a few days of addition of ciprofloxacin to her current regimen of medications, which included digoxin. The digoxin was discontinued, with all other medications remaining the same, and the symptoms resolved in 48 h. The dose of digoxin was restarted at 50 % of the previous dose with no further complications. The proposed cause of the nausea and anorexia was digoxin toxicity secondary to a drug-drug interaction with ciprofloxacin.

Conclusion: Patients receiving ciprofloxacin and digoxin should be monitored closely for the risk of digoxin toxicity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anorexia / chemically induced
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cardiotonic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Cardiotonic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Ciprofloxacin / adverse effects*
  • Ciprofloxacin / therapeutic use
  • Digoxin / adverse effects*
  • Digoxin / therapeutic use
  • Drug Interactions
  • Drug Monitoring
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / complications
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy*
  • Heart Failure / therapy
  • Humans
  • Nausea / chemically induced
  • Pacemaker, Artificial
  • Pseudomonas Infections / complications
  • Pseudomonas Infections / drug therapy*
  • Pseudomonas Infections / microbiology
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / isolation & purification
  • Reoperation / adverse effects
  • Surgical Wound Infection / complications
  • Surgical Wound Infection / drug therapy*
  • Surgical Wound Infection / microbiology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Cardiotonic Agents
  • Ciprofloxacin
  • Digoxin