The adjectives adverse and averse are related both etymologically and semantically, each having âoppositionâ as a central sense. Adverse is seldom used of people but rather of effects or events, and it usually conveys a sense of hostility or harmfulness: adverse reviews; adverse winds; adverse trends in the economy. Related nouns are adversity and adversary: Adversities breed bitterness. His adversaries countered his every move.
After oral administration, there is an early rise in serum concentration. Equilibration of serum and tissue levels occurs at approximately 6 to 8 hours. For this reason, blood specimens for digoxin analysis should be drawn at least 6 to 8 hours after drug administration. Digoxin is excreted primarily in the urine.
The doses of digoxin tablets used in controlled trials in patients with heart failure have ranged from 125 to 500 mcg once daily. In these studies, the digoxin dose has been generally titrated according to the patient's age, lean body weight, and renal function.