Drug interactions
Digoxin + Pirbuterol
Severity: Moderate
Digoxin and Pirbuterol: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Beta-2 agonists such as pirbuterol can lower serum potassium and may provoke tachyarrhythmias. In a patient taking digoxin, hypokalemia increases myocardial sensitivity to the glycoside and raises the risk of digoxin-related arrhythmias.
What this interaction means in plain words
Digoxin and Pirbuterol can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Beta-2 agonist-induced intracellular potassium shift causes hypokalemia, which potentiates digoxin cardiac toxicity; additive proarrhythmic effects may also contribute.
What to do
Monitor serum potassium and ECG when pirbuterol is used regularly or at high doses with digoxin, and correct hypokalemia promptly. Check digoxin levels if toxicity symptoms appear.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Digoxin and Pirbuterol, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Digoxin
- Digoxin + Lily of the valley Contraindicated
- Digoxin + Squill Contraindicated
- Adagrasib + Digoxin Major
- Amiodarone + Digoxin Major
- Amlodipine-hydrochlorothiazide-valsartan + Digoxin Major
- Amphotericin b deoxycholate + Digoxin Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Digoxin with Pirbuterol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Digoxin and Pirbuterol can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Beta-2 agonists such as pirbuterol can lower serum potassium and may provoke tachyarrhythmias. In a patient taking digoxin, hypokalemia increases myocardial sensitivity to the glycoside and raises the risk of digoxin-related arrhythmias.
How serious is the interaction between Digoxin and Pirbuterol?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor serum potassium and ECG when pirbuterol is used regularly or at high doses with digoxin, and correct hypokalemia promptly. Check digoxin levels if toxicity symptoms appear.
What other medicines interact with Digoxin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Digoxin with, for example, Lily of the valley, Squill, Adagrasib. The full list is on the Digoxin page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
