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Digitek Bradycardia

Digitek, a medication used to treat congestive heart failure and arrhythmias, was recalled by the FDA in April 2008 due to the fact that its manufacturer, Actavis Totowa LLC, had been producing tablets that contained double the safe doses of the drug's active ingredient, digitalis.

While appropriate doses of digitalis can reduce cardiac swelling and help the heart pump blood more efficiently, overdoses of Digitek – medically referred to as Digitek toxicity – can result in serious health complications, including worsened arrhythmias and possibly death.

The FDA recall of double-dosed Digitek has been effective in alerting patients about the dangers of Digitek and preventing some from taking this medication. However, many other patients have already endured significant health problems after taking double-dosed Digitek.

Digitek and Bradycardia

Anyone who takes double-dosed Digitek for a significant period of time may start experiencing the following symptoms of Digitek toxicity:

• bradycardia or other arrhythmias
• dizziness
• faintness
• nausea
• vomiting
• death

Bradycardia is a type of abnormal heartbeat in which the heart beats less than 60 times per minute (Normal heart rate is 70 beats per minute (BPM) for men and 75 BPM for women). Because Digitek works by slowing down certain electric impulses in the heart, excessive amounts of this medication will cause the heart to permanently beat at a dangerously slow rate.

If Digitek toxicity and/or bradycardia persist without the proper treatment, patients will likely die. Unfortunately, the risk of experiencing Digitek toxicity and bradycardia is high for anyone who has taken or who continues to take Digitek. This is primarily due to the fact that experts estimate that about 50 percent of all Digitek tablets circulated were the dangerous double-dosed variety.

If you have taken or are still using Digitek

See your doctor immediately. While double-dosed Digitek pills are generally doubled in size, it's difficult for the average patient to know whether or not his or her prescription is the safe dosage versus the harmful double-dosage.

Anyone still taking Digitek should work with a doctor to find alternative treatment options. Similarly, it's a good idea to have a thorough physical exam to evaluate whether or not double-dosed Digitek has caused any health problems. By working with their doctors, patients can safely substitute Digitek for a healthier, safer medication.