Drug interactions
Digoxin + Salmeterol
Severity: Moderate
Digoxin and Salmeterol: 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
Salmeterol can lower serum potassium, and hypokalemia increases the sensitivity of the heart to digoxin toxicity and arrhythmias. The effect is usually modest at inhaled doses but matters in patients with heart failure or other potassium-lowering drugs.
What this interaction means in plain words
Digoxin and Salmeterol 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.
Digoxin belongs to Cardiovascular; Salmeterol belongs to Respiratory.
Why it happens
Beta-2 mediated intracellular potassium shift causing hypokalemia, which potentiates digoxin cardiac toxicity.
What to do
Monitor serum potassium and digoxin levels, and correct hypokalemia. Watch for arrhythmias or digoxin toxicity symptoms.
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?
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Other interactions of Salmeterol
- Ritonavir + Salmeterol Contraindicated
- Salmeterol + Saquinavir Contraindicated
- Amitriptyline + Salmeterol Major
- Arformoterol + Salmeterol Major
- Atazanavir + Salmeterol Major
- Budesonide-formoterol + Salmeterol Major
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 Salmeterol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Digoxin and Salmeterol 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. Salmeterol can lower serum potassium, and hypokalemia increases the sensitivity of the heart to digoxin toxicity and arrhythmias. The effect is usually modest at inhaled doses but matters in patients with heart failure or other potassium-lowering drugs.
How serious is the interaction between Digoxin and Salmeterol?
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 digoxin levels, and correct hypokalemia. Watch for arrhythmias or digoxin toxicity symptoms.
What other medicines interact with Salmeterol?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Salmeterol with, for example, Ritonavir, Saquinavir, Amitriptyline. The full list is on the Salmeterol page.
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