NCLEX-PN® ExaminationPharmacological TherapiesHard
A client is prescribed a loading dose of digoxin. The LPN understands that the primary expected therapeutic effect of digoxin is to achieve which of the following?
- AIncrease myocardial contractility.
- BDilate peripheral blood vessels.
- CIncrease heart rate.
- DDecrease blood pressure.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Increase myocardial contractility.
Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside that works by inhibiting the sodium-potassium pump in myocardial cells, leading to an increase in intracellular calcium. This increased calcium availability enhances the force of myocardial contraction (positive inotropic effect), which is its primary therapeutic effect in heart failure.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Digoxin does not primarily act as a vasodilator; this is a function of other cardiovascular medications.
- C. Digoxin typically decreases heart rate (negative chronotropic effect) by slowing conduction through the AV node, especially in atrial fibrillation, not increases it.
- D. While improved cardiac output can indirectly affect blood pressure, digoxin's primary action is not to decrease blood pressure.
Digoxin Therapeutic Effect
Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside that primarily increases the force of myocardial contraction (positive inotropic effect) and decreases heart rate.
- Positive inotropic effect.
- Negative chronotropic effect.
- Used in heart failure and atrial fibrillation.
Memory trick: Digoxin Drips, Heart Beats Stronger, But Slower!