Search Health Information Digitalis is a medication prescribed
to certain heart patients. Digitalis toxicity is a complication
of digitalis therapy, or it may be occur when someone takes more
than a large amount of the drug at one time. (This is called an
acute ingestion.) The most common prescription form of this
medication is called digoxin. Digitoxin is another form of
digitalis. Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Digitalis
toxicity can be caused by high levels of digitalis in the body,
or a decreased tolerance to the drug. Patients with decreased
tolerance may have "normal" digitalis levels in their blood.
Digitalis toxicity can occur from a single exposure or chronic
overmedication, or it may occur in patients with normal blood
levels of digitalis if other risks are present. People with
heart failure who take digoxin are commonly given medications
called diuretics, which remove excess fluid from the body. Many
diuretics can cause potassium loss. Low levels of potassium in
the body increase the risk of