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Previous Volume 295:1034-1037 November 4, 1976 Number 19 Next

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Abstract

Employing a Latin-square design and single-dose studies of bioavailability in 10 normal human volunteers, we tested the hypothesis that antacids and kaolin-pectin might interfere with the bioavailability of orally administered digoxin. Cumulative six-day urinary digoxin excretion (expressed as the percentage of a 0.75-mg dose recovered) was: control, 40.1+/-3.0 (S.E.); aluminum hydroxide, 30.7+/-2.9; magnesium hydroxide, 27.1+/-2.4; magnesium trisilicate, 29.1+/-1.7; and kaolin-pectin 23.4+/-2.0. The differences in means were highly significant (F = 10.47, P less than 0.005). Further analysis (multiple comparison test) revealed that control differed significantly from each of the other treatments (alpha = 0.05), but there was no such difference between any of the other treatment groups. The decreased cumulative excretion produced by antacids and kaolin-pectin reflected a striking reduction in digoxin absorption associated with these compounds that was not related to alteration of gut transit time or to adsorption of digoxin to these gastrointestinal medications.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Cohen, L. (1985). Magnesium Sulfate and Digitalis-Toxic Arrhythmias-Reply. JAMA 253: 513-514 [Abstract]  
• Fletcher, S. W., Pappius, E. M., Harper, S. J. (1979). Measurement of Medication Compliance in a Clinical Setting: Comparison of Three Methods in Patients Prescribed Digoxin. Arch Intern Med 139: 635-638 [Abstract]