Drug interactions
Digoxin + Tetracycline
Severity: Moderate
Digoxin and Tetracycline: 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
In a minority of patients, intestinal bacteria inactivate digoxin, and antibiotics such as tetracyclines can reduce this, raising serum digoxin concentrations. This may lead to digoxin toxicity such as nausea, arrhythmias or visual disturbances.
What this interaction means in plain words
Digoxin and Tetracycline 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; Tetracycline belongs to Anti Bacterial.
Why it happens
Suppression of gut flora that metabolize digoxin increases its bioavailability.
What to do
Monitor serum digoxin concentration and signs of toxicity when starting or stopping tetracycline. Reduce the digoxin dose if levels rise.
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 Tetracycline
- Acitretin + Tetracycline Contraindicated
- Methoxyflurane + Tetracycline Contraindicated
- Isotretinoin + Tetracycline Major
- Palovarotene + Tetracycline Major
- Strontium ranelate + Tetracycline Major
- Tetracycline + Tretinoin 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 Tetracycline?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Digoxin and Tetracycline 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. In a minority of patients, intestinal bacteria inactivate digoxin, and antibiotics such as tetracyclines can reduce this, raising serum digoxin concentrations. This may lead to digoxin toxicity such as nausea, arrhythmias or visual disturbances.
How serious is the interaction between Digoxin and Tetracycline?
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 digoxin concentration and signs of toxicity when starting or stopping tetracycline. Reduce the digoxin dose if levels rise.
What other medicines interact with Tetracycline?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Tetracycline with, for example, Acitretin, Methoxyflurane, Isotretinoin. The full list is on the Tetracycline page.
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