This hand-out will answer questions you might have about giving Digoxin to your child. Digoxin works in two ways. First, it helps the heart beat stronger. Second, it slows the heart rate so that the heart has time to fill with blood between each beat. Together, these actions allow more blood to be pumped through the body.
Digoxin comes as pills and as a liquid.
If your child is old enough and can swallow a pill, he or she will need to take a pill. Younger children and babies will be given the liquid form of Digoxin. It is lime flavored and most children like the taste. Your child's heart doctor will give you directions on the amount of medicine your child needs. The liquid comes in a bottle with a syringe marked in tenths of a milliliter.