A patient ill with chronic cardiac insufficiency was prescribed an average therapeutic dose of digoxin. Two weeks after begin of its taking there appeared symptoms of drug intoxication (bradycardia, extrasystole, nausea). Name the phenomenon that caused accumulation of the drug in the organism?

Answer options

1. Idiosyncrasy
2. Tolerance
3. Tachyphylaxis
4. Functional cumulation
5. Material cumulation

Explanation

Accumulation is enhancing the effects in repeated doses that lead to the appearance of toxic effects. Material Accumulation is an accumulation of drugs in the manner of binding with proteins, phospholipids, etc. Functional accumulation is an accumulation of the effect of the drug, in spite of its elimination. Over here, digitalis (foxglove) is fully absorbed and firmly connected with proteins (about 95% of plasma proteins). These drugs are accumulated.