digoxin vs norepinephrine
Side-by-side comparison of digoxin and norepinephrine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
moderate Known Drug Interaction
Sympathomimetics Epinephrine Norepinephrine Dopamine Can increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmias Neuromuscular Blocking Agents Succinylcholine May cause sudden extrusion of potassium from muscle cells causing arrhythmias in patients taking digoxin.
Recommendation: Use this combination with caution and have your heart rhythm monitored by a healthcare professional.
Lanoxin
Levophed
Digoxin (Lanoxin) is a medicine that helps your heart pump better. It is used to treat heart failure and control irregular heartbeats.
Norepinephrine injection raises blood pressure in adults with very low blood pressure. It belongs to a class of drugs called vasopressors.
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.
This medicine treats severe, sudden low blood pressure in adults. Low blood pressure can happen due to serious conditions. Norepinephrine helps to restore blood pressure to help blood flow to vital organs.
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.
Norepinephrine works by tightening blood vessels. This increases blood pressure. It helps to improve blood flow to your organs.
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Diarrhea
- • Dizziness
- • Headache
- • High blood pressure
- • Slow heart rate
- • Anxiety
- • Headache
- • Trouble breathing
- Shortness of breath 6,062
- Feeling sick to your stomach 4,747
- Feeling lightheaded or unsteady 4,442
- Feeling very tired 4,174
- Irregular heartbeat 3,972
- Low blood pressure 1,011
- Sudden kidney damage 747
- Failure of multiple organs 652
- Poisoning from different substances 624
- Condition getting worse 560
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.
Norepinephrine can cause tissue damage if it leaks out of the vein. The medicine can also cause very low blood pressure if stopped suddenly. It may also cause irregular heartbeats, especially if you have heart problems. Allergic reactions are possible due to the sulfite ingredient.
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.
This medicine may be used during pregnancy if needed. Low blood pressure during pregnancy can be dangerous for both mother and baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits.
How to Read This digoxin vs norepinephrine Comparison
digoxin is classified in the Cardiac Glycoside drug class, while norepinephrine sits within the Vasopressor (Alpha-1 Agonist) 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 23,397 submissions while norepinephrine has 3,594. 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 moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to these medications both stimulate the heart, which can lead to a higher risk of irregular heartbeats when used at the same time.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between digoxin and norepinephrine - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.