Digoxin (digitalis, positive inotropic drug)

You administer digoxin as you remember that this drug is effective in increasing contractility and thus cardiac output in heart failure. 

Later that evening, Dr. Taylor is frantically looking for you. She tells you that Mrs. Reed experienced ventricular fibrillation, presumambly due to digoxin. Mrs. Reed is now stable with appropriate management. 

Dr. Taylor reminds you that inotropic therapy with digoxin is generally required in more severe chronic heart failure, especially when accompanied by atrial fibrillation. The use of digoxin has fallen out of favor since it has a narrow therapeutic index and adverse effects are common and can be serious, including arrhythmias (such as sinus rhythm disturbances that can progress to AV block, ectopic beats and tachyarrhythmias), vision changes (blurry, yellow vision) and central nervous system effects (confusion, hallucinations). The pharmacological action of digoxin is also affected by extracellular potassium, which can be affected by many cardiovascular drugs. 

Since this is a virtual patient, you may go back and try again.