A mathematical study of the metabolic conversion of digitoxin to digoxin in man

Abstract This article describes a mathematical study of the average rate of metabolism of digitoxin to digoxin in patients, and an improved mathematical description of digitoxin kinetics. This description closely fits observed data of pharmacological effect and urinary excretion of both digitoxin and digoxin in patients receiving USP digitoxin. It permits quantification of the effect of reduced renal function on overall digitoxin-digoxin kinetics, and should yield improved precision and safety for digitoxin therapy. Metabolism of digitoxin to digoxin appears to be a relatively minor pathway of digitoxin losses.