A 65-year-old male client has lived alone for the past 3 years. A year ago, he was hospitalized for an MI, which resulted in heart failure. He is compliant with her medications, which include digoxin (Lanoxin) 0.125 mg daily, furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg daily, and potassium (K-Dur) 20 mEq daily. Recently, he ran out of his potassium and thought that because it was “just a supplement,” it would be OK to go without it until the next time he went to town to fill the prescription. He has not taken her potassium for a week. Today, he comes into the clinic with generalized weakness, fatigue, nausea, and diarrhea. Her BP is 100/60, pulse 95 bpm and slightly irregular, RR 18, and temp 97.2 °F. Blood is drawn and shows serum sodium level of 150 mEq/L (Normal value; 135-145 mEq/L), digoxin level of 2.6ng/ml (Normal value; 0.8-2.0 ng/mL) and potassium level of 3.2 mEq/L (Normal value; 3.5 to 5.2 mEq/L). Question:  What relationship exists between this patient’s furosemide, digoxin, and potassium levels?

A 65-year-old male client has lived alone for the past 3 years. A year ago, he was hospitalized for an MI, which resulted in heart failure. He is compliant with her medications, which include digoxin (Lanoxin) 0.125 mg daily, furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg daily, and potassium (K-Dur) 20 mEq daily.

Recently, he ran out of his potassium and thought that because it was “just a supplement,” it would be OK to go without it until the next time he went to town to fill the prescription. He has not taken her potassium for a week.

Today, he comes into the clinic with generalized weakness, fatigue, nausea, and diarrhea. Her BP is 100/60, pulse 95 bpm and slightly irregular, RR 18, and temp 97.2 °F. Blood is drawn and shows serum sodium level of 150 mEq/L (Normal value; 135-145 mEq/L), digoxin level of 2.6ng/ml (Normal value; 0.8-2.0 ng/mL) and potassium level of 3.2 mEq/L (Normal value; 3.5 to 5.2 mEq/L).

Question: 

1. What relationship exists between this patient’s furosemide, digoxin, and potassium levels?