Pharmacology Proctored ATI Practice Exam

Digoxin toxicity can manifest in several specific ways due to digoxin's effects on the heart and the central nervous system. The most common signs include nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances. Nausea and vomiting are gastrointestinal symptoms that often occur when digoxin levels become excessively high in the bloodstream, indicating a potential overdose.

Visual disturbances may also present as yellow-green halos around objects or blurred vision, which occurs because digoxin affects the retina, leading to eccentric visual changes. These symptoms are well-documented consequences of elevated digoxin levels and reflect its pharmacological properties, particularly its interaction with therapeutic pathways in the body.

The other options do not represent typical signs associated with digoxin toxicity. For instance, increased appetite and weight gain are not common symptoms of toxicity, as digoxin primarily affects cardiac function rather than appetite. Rapid heart rate could indicate other cardiac conditions or complications but is not a typical sign of digoxin toxicity; instead, digoxin is more likely to lead to bradycardia (slow heart rate). Fever and muscle pain are also unrelated to digoxin toxicity, as these symptoms usually indicate an infection or inflammatory process rather than a reaction to digoxin.