What dietary recommendation should a parent follow for a child on digoxin?

For a child on digoxin, increasing potassium intake is particularly important because digoxin can cause the heart to become more sensitive to the effects of potassium levels in the body. Potassium helps regulate heart rhythm and supports the effectiveness of digoxin therapy. Insufficient potassium levels (hypokalemia) can increase the risk of digoxin toxicity, leading to serious cardiac complications.

In contrast, reducing potassium intake would not be advisable, as low potassium can have detrimental effects when a child is taking digoxin. Increasing calcium intake is also not recommended, as elevated calcium levels can further enhance the effects of digoxin and may increase the risk of toxicity. Maintaining the current diet does not consider the risk of electrolyte imbalance, particularly as potassium needs may change with digoxin therapy. Therefore, encouraging an appropriate increase in potassium intake is crucial for ensuring both the safety and efficacy of digoxin treatment in children.