Digoxin is best described as which type of drug, and what are its primary effects?

Digoxin is best described as which type of drug, and what are its primary effects?

• A. Beta-blocker; decreases heart rate
• B. Calcium channel blocker; reduces contractility
• C. Cardiac glycoside; positive inotrope and antiarrhythmic effects
• D. ACE inhibitor; reduces afterload

Answer: (C)

Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside. Its main effect is to increase the heart’s pumping strength (positive inotropy) by inhibiting the Na+/K+-ATPase pump in cardiac cells, which raises intracellular calcium and enhances contractility. It also increases vagal tone, slowing conduction through the AV node and producing an antiarrhythmic effect, especially useful in supraventricular tachyarrhythmias like atrial fibrillation with rapid response. This combination—stronger contraction plus slower AV nodal conduction—sets it apart from the other drug classes listed, which either don’t increase contractility or don’t primarily modulate AV nodal conduction.

Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside. Its main effect is to increase the heart’s pumping strength (positive inotropy) by inhibiting the Na+/K+-ATPase pump in cardiac cells, which raises intracellular calcium and enhances contractility. It also increases vagal tone, slowing conduction through the AV node and producing an antiarrhythmic effect, especially useful in supraventricular tachyarrhythmias like atrial fibrillation with rapid response. This combination—stronger contraction plus slower AV nodal conduction—sets it apart from the other drug classes listed, which either don’t increase contractility or don’t primarily modulate AV nodal conduction.