Contact A Lawyer
Near You

Contact us today for a complimentary consultation with a qualified attorney near you.

Digitek Kidney Failure

Contact a Digitek lawyer -  (800) 729-9072 

Digitek is a brand name drug used to treat a number of heart ailments, but a recall issued in April 2008 brought to light a serious problem with the tablet form of the drug: a manufacturing error resulted in tablets that contained double the dose of digoxin, the drug’s active ingredient. Even in small doses, this drug can have profound effects. At high doses, the drug can be toxic. This especially true when Digitek is administered to kidney failure patients whose kidneys are unable to excrete the drug from the body.

Kidney Health
Healthy kidneys process about 200 quarts of the body’s blood each day, and they sift out about two quarts of extra water and waste products, which exit through the bladder as urine. The kidneys are vital to the body’s proper functioning, because they keep the blood chemically balanced and clean of waste.

Drugs taken by an individual for whatever reason will also be processed through the kidneys via the bloodstream. Digitalis, from which Digitek is made, can build up in the bloodstream and not be eliminated fully if the individual has kidney failure in one or both kidneys. This result can be toxic and fatal.

Double-Strength Digitek and Kidney Failure
The recalled Digitek included tablets that were mistakenly manufactured with twice the intended dose of digoxin. This double-strength Digitek is especially dangerous to people with kidney failure because their kidneys may not be able to handle the increased level of digoxin.

Digitek Toxicity in Kidney Failure Patients
Digoxin toxicity is life-threatening. Digitek-treated kidney failure patients should be aware of the symptoms of digoxin toxicity, which include:

  • cardiac instability (e.g., irregular heart rate)
  • abnormally slow heart rate (bradycardia)
  • abnormally fast heart rate (tachycardia)
  • nausea, vomiting
  • low blood pressure (hypotension)

Digitek Patients
Digitek is very widely prescribed in the U.S. It is used to treat cardiac (heart) conditions such as atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation, and congestive heart failure. Digitek may also be prescribed for these conditions in patients who also have renal (kidney) failure. However, the recalled Digitek is very dangerous for kidney failure patients.

Contact a Digitek Lawyer Today
If you have been treated with Digitek and have kidney failure, or if you have any concerns about Digitek, contact an experienced attorney today to discuss your circumstances and legal options.

 

Contact a Digitek Recall Lawyer

More Digitek Resources