Technical Breakdown
Aconitum, known for its cardiovascular effects, contains alkaloids like aconitine, responsible for its antiarrhythmic and hypotensive properties. Digitalis, on the other hand, acts on the heart’s ion channels, inhibiting Na/K-ATPase, leading to increased contractility and decreased heart rate.
Performance Insights
In clinical settings, Aconitum is employed for conditions like atrial fibrillation, hypertension, and arrhythmias, while Digitalis is commonly used for heart failure management due to its positive inotropic and negative chronotropic effects. Precision dosing is crucial for these medications, as their therapeutic index can be narrow.
