Which of the following is not a symptom of Digoxin toxicity?

Uttarakhand CHO - 2021

Pharmacology

Easy

Appeared in: Uttarakhand CHO - 2021

Explanation

Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) is not a recognized symptom of digoxin toxicity.
The toxic effects of digoxin primarily impact the gastrointestinal tract, central nervous system (including vision), and the cardiovascular system.
While electrolyte imbalances are critical in digoxin toxicity (hypokalemia increases risk, and hyperkalemia can occur in acute overdose), the drug's mechanism does not involve altering blood glucose levels to cause hyperglycemia.

Option A: This is incorrect because visual disturbances are a classic and well-documented sign of CNS toxicity from digoxin. Symptoms can include blurred vision, altered color perception (seeing yellow or green), and seeing halos around lights.
Option B: This is incorrect because anorexia (loss of appetite) is one of the earliest and most common gastrointestinal symptoms of impending digoxin toxicity.
Option C: This is incorrect because nausea, often accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea, is a hallmark gastrointestinal sign of digoxin toxicity.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Signs and symptoms of digoxin toxicity helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses must continuously monitor patients on digoxin for early signs of toxicity, especially GI and visual changes, as it has a narrow therapeutic index (0.5-2 ng/mL).
Before administering digoxin, the nurse must check the apical pulse for a full minute and hold the dose if the heart rate is below 60 bpm in an adult, as bradycardia is a key sign of toxicity.
What if? If a patient on digoxin also takes a potassium-wasting diuretic (like furosemide), the risk of toxicity is significantly increased because hypokalemia sensitizes the heart to digoxin's effects, requiring more frequent electrolyte monitoring.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept being tested, which is the symptoms of digoxin toxicity.
Note the negative keyword 'not'. This signals that you must find the option that is FALSE or does not belong with the others.
Mentally review or recall the classic signs of digoxin toxicity. These are primarily grouped into gastrointestinal (GI), central nervous system (CNS)/visual, and cardiac categories.
Evaluate each option against your knowledge: 'Visual disturbance' is a known CNS/visual symptom. 'Anorexia' and 'Nausea' are known GI symptoms.
The remaining option, 'Hyperglycemia', is related to glucose metabolism and is not a recognized effect of digoxin. Therefore, it is the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Signs and symptoms of digoxin toxicity
Stem keywords: Digoxin toxicity, symptom
Lead-in keywords: not
Negative lead-in flag: This is a negative-stem question, asking the test-taker to identify the option that is NOT a symptom of the condition.

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