Also known as digitalis, digoxin is used in the treatment of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. It has a small therapeutic range, thus adverse reactions are commonly seen with its use. Common side effects include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and visual disturbances. Neurological side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness and insomnia can also occur. Digoxin can cause ECG changes such as ST depression and T wave inversion, with PR interval prolongation being a sign of digoxin toxicity.

So, where does van Gogh come into this? One popular diagnosis attributed to the dutch painter is Epilepsy, of which a possible treatment is use of the foxglove plant (the plant from which digoxin is extracted). Hints of van Gogh’s use of the foxglove plant can be seen in several of his painting, in particular the painting Portrait of Dr. Gachet, a depiction of van Gogh’s personal physician. Some features of van Gogh's work hint at a possible digoxin toxicity. Xanthopsia, a defect in which there is a yellow tint to vision (due to a yellowing of the optic media) could be a possible explanation for the prominence of the colour yellow in van Gogh's palette, particularly in painting during his aptly named Yellow Period. Another clue in his paintings is in the presences of halos around objects, such as the stars in Starry Night. In digoxin toxicity patients can often experience blurry vision and see halos around points of light. As a result of the connections between van Gogh and digoxin toxicity, medical students have used van Gogh’s art and history as a reminder of the hallmarks of digoxin toxicity- Yellow Period (xanthopsia), his infamous missing ear (oto-toxicity) and Starry Night (halo vision).