The client is receiving digoxin for a dysrhythmia. Why does the nurse expect medication levels in the blood to be monitored closely?
1. Digoxin is used for ventricular dysrhythmias.
2. Excessive levels can produce serious dysrhythmias.
3. Subtherapeutic levels are fatal.
4. Interactions with other medications are common.
Correct Answer: 2
Rationale 1: Digoxin is used for atrial dysrhythmias.
Rationale 2: Excessive levels can produce serious dysrhythmias, since the action of the drug is to decrease the automaticity of the SA node and slow the conduction through the AV node.
Rationale 3: Subtherapeutic levels can cause the atrial dysrhythmia to continue, which can produce symptoms, but might not be life-threatening or fatal.
Rationale 4: Interactions with other medications are common, but not monitored by drug levels.
Global Rationale: Excessive levels can produce serious dysrhythmias, since the action of the drug is to decrease the automaticity of the SA node and slow the conduction through the AV node. Digoxin is used for atrial dysrhythmias. Subtherapeutic levels can cause the atrial dysrhythmia to continue, which can produce symptoms, but might not be life-threatening or fatal. Interactions with other medications are common, but not monitored by drug levels.
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