Digitalis is classified as what type of compound?

Digitalis is classified as a cardiac glycoside. This type of compound is primarily used in the treatment of heart conditions, particularly to increase the force of heart muscle contractions and to help manage heart failure and certain arrhythmias. Cardiac glycosides work by inhibiting the sodium-potassium ATPase pump in cardiac cells, which leads to an increase in intracellular sodium and calcium levels. This in turn enhances the contractility of cardiac muscle and can slow down the heart rate via increased vagal tone.

Understanding the pharmacological classification of digitalis is essential for recognizing how it interacts with cardiac function and for determining its therapeutic use in veterinary medicine. This classification underlines the importance of monitoring and managing the doses of digitalis, as the therapeutic range is narrow and can lead to toxicity if not carefully administered.