Dose-independent pharmacokinetics of digoxin in humans

Am Heart J. 1978 Oct;96(4):507-11. doi: 10.1016/0002-8703(78)90162-x.

Abstract

Nine healthy male volunteers received single 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg. doses of intravenous digoxin in a randomized three-way crossover study. Multiple venous blood samples were drawn during 35 hours after each dose, and all urine was collected for 6 consecutive days. Concentrations of digoxin in serum and urine were determined by radioimmunoassay. Over-all mean values for kinetic variables were: distribution half-life, 0.35 hours; elimination half-life, 27.9 hours; volume of distribution, 5.46 liters/Kg; total clearance, 2.51 ml./min./Kg. The mean projected cumulative urinary excretion of digoxin was 70.1% of the dose; mean renal clearance of digoxin was 1.71 ml./min./Kg., not significantly different from creatinine clearance (1.50 ml./min./Kg.). None of the identifiable pharmacokinetic variables was significantly influenced by dose, suggesting that digoxin disposition is dose-independent in healthy individuals.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Digoxin / administration & dosage
  • Digoxin / blood
  • Digoxin / metabolism*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Half-Life
  • Humans
  • Infusions, Parenteral
  • Kinetics
  • Male
  • Urine / analysis

Substances

  • Digoxin