Clinical use of digitalis glycosides.

The pharmacology of digitalis compounds is reviewed, and the clinical use of the cardiac glycosides is discussed with particular attention to the selection of patients for digitalis therapy and to a study of the usefulness of various methods to monitor digitalis therapy. The discussion includes pharmacokinetics, clinical considerations, and digitalis toxicity and its treatment. It is concluded that the digitalis glycosides remain the most useful and reliable drugs for producing a long-term increase in myocardial contractility. However, in view of the high frequency of toxicity, it is important to consider the possibility that these drugs may have been overused.