On the interaction between phenytoin and digoxin

Summary An open, randomized, single-blind cross over trial to investigate phenytoin-digoxin interactions at steady state was performed in 6 healthy male volunteers. Coadministration of phenytoin caused a significant reduction in the elimination half-life of digoxin from 33.9 to 23.7 h and a diminution in AUC_0–48 from 31.6 to 24.4 ng · ml^–1 · h. Renal digoxin clearance was not significantly altered from 135.7 to 120.3 ml · min^–1. Assuming no change in -acetyldigoxin absorption, the in decrease time-course the serum digoxin concentration was due to a significantly increased total digoxin clearance from 258.6 to 328.3 ml · min^–1. An insignificant reduction in the digoxin distribution volume from 749.4 to 668.0 l was also observed. No relevant change in the pharmacokinetic parameters (elimination half-life, area under the serum concentration time-curve, protein binding) of phenytoin was observed when phenytoin and digoxin were co-administered. The data suggest that with this drug combination the serum digoxin concentration should be carefully monitored and, if necessary, the daily digoxin dose should be increased.