Pharmacological reevaluation of gitoxin in man.

The aim of the present investigation was to reevaluate the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters of gitoxin in man. Gitoxin given as a solution is quasi-completely absorbed after oral administration in a fasting man. A dose of 1.5 mg modifies the left ventricular ejection time index (LVETI) as digoxin or digitoxin does. The biological half-life of gitoxin calculated on the basis of plasma concentrations or urinary data is about one day. The urinary elimination of gitoxin is smaller than 21% of the dose. Therefore the two main advantages of gitoxin versus digoxin or digitoxin are: 1) its short biological half-life and 2) its elimination being less dependent on the renal function of the patient.