digoxin vs hydroxychloroquine

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Side-by-side comparison of digoxin and hydroxychloroquine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

7.7 Digoxin Concomitant hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets and digoxin therapy may result in increased serum digoxin levels. Monitor serum digoxin levels closely in patients receiving combined therapy.

Drug Class
digoxin Cardiac Glycoside
hydroxychloroquine Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD)
Type
digoxin Prescription
hydroxychloroquine Prescription
Summary
digoxin

Digoxin (Lanoxin) is a medicine that helps your heart pump better. It is used to treat heart failure and control irregular heartbeats.

hydroxychloroquine

Hydroxychloroquine is a drug used to treat or prevent malaria, and to treat certain autoimmune diseases. It works by interfering with the immune system and by killing malaria parasites.

What It Treats
digoxin

Digoxin is used to treat mild to moderate heart failure in adults. It helps the heart pump more blood with each beat. Digoxin is also used in children with heart failure to help their heart work better. In adults, it can control a fast and irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation.

hydroxychloroquine

This medicine can treat uncomplicated malaria caused by certain parasites. It can also prevent malaria in areas where the parasites are not resistant to the drug. Hydroxychloroquine also treats rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and chronic discoid lupus erythematosus.

How It Works
digoxin

Digoxin belongs to a class of drugs called cardiac glycosides. It works by making the heart muscle contract more strongly. It also slows down the electrical signals in the heart, which can help control irregular heartbeats.

hydroxychloroquine

Hydroxychloroquine is an antimalarial and antirheumatic drug. It is thought to work by interfering with the immune system's activity. It also stops the growth of malaria parasites in red blood cells.

Common Side Effects
digoxin
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
hydroxychloroquine
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Fatigue
FAERS Reports
digoxin
  • Dyspnoea 6,065
  • Nausea 4,754
  • Dizziness 4,439
  • Fatigue 4,175
  • Atrial Fibrillation 3,974
hydroxychloroquine
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis 12,921
  • Pain 10,409
  • Arthralgia 9,276
  • Fatigue 8,853
  • Joint Swelling 8,528
Serious Warnings
digoxin

Digoxin can cause serious side effects, including dangerous heart rhythms. You are at higher risk if you have certain heart conditions or kidney problems. Tell your doctor right away if you have nausea, vomiting, vision changes, or an irregular heartbeat.

hydroxychloroquine

This drug can cause heart problems, including a weakened heart muscle and irregular heartbeats. It can also cause irreversible damage to your retina, so regular eye exams are needed. This medicine can also cause serious skin reactions. If you have psoriasis or porphyria, talk to your doctor before taking this medicine. It can also cause liver and kidney problems.

Pregnancy
digoxin

It is not known if digoxin can harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. The medicine passes into breast milk, but it is unlikely to harm the baby.

hydroxychloroquine

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. This drug can cross the placenta, but studies haven't shown a risk of major birth defects. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while pregnant. Hydroxychloroquine passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about breastfeeding while taking this medicine.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This digoxin vs hydroxychloroquine Comparison

digoxin is classified in the Cardiac Glycoside drug class, while hydroxychloroquine sits within the Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, digoxin has 23,407 submissions while hydroxychloroquine has 49,987. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to taking hydroxychloroquine can lead to higher levels of digoxin in your bloodstream.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for digoxin or hydroxychloroquine.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.