Question

digoxin (lanoxin) is prescribed for a client who has congestive heart failure.

which of these symptoms should a nurse recognize as an early symptom of a toxic reaction to lanoxin?

hematuria
ataxia
anorexia
constipation

Explanation:

🆕 New Concept Discovered: Digoxin Toxicity Monitoring
Recognizing early gastrointestinal warning signs of drug toxicity.

Step 1: Understand Digoxin and its therapeutic range

Digoxin (Lanoxin) is a cardiac glycoside used to treat heart failure and certain heart rhythm problems. It has a very narrow therapeutic index, meaning the difference between a safe, effective dose and a toxic dose is very small. Monitoring for early signs of toxicity is a critical nursing responsibility.

Step 2: Identify early signs of toxicity

The earliest clinical manifestations of digoxin toxicity typically involve the gastrointestinal (GI) system and the central nervous system.

• Gastrointestinal signs (Earliest): Loss of appetite (anorexia), nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
• Neurological/Visual signs (Later): Fatigue, headache, confusion, and visual disturbances (such as blurred vision or seeing yellow-green halos around objects).
• Cardiac signs (Severe): Bradycardia (slow heart rate) and various cardiac arrhythmias.

Step 3: Evaluate the given options

• Hematuria: Blood in the urine. This is not associated with digoxin toxicity.
• Ataxia: Lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements. This is not a typical or early sign of digoxin toxicity.
• Anorexia: Loss of appetite. This is a classic, well-documented early gastrointestinal symptom of digoxin toxicity.
• Constipation: Digoxin toxicity typically causes diarrhea or nausea rather than constipation.

Answer:

Anorexia.