Theophylline: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use

Theophylline What Medicine?

What is Theophylline for?

Theophylline is a drug with a function to treat and prevent shortness of breath and difficulty breathing caused by lung diseases, for example, asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis).

Theophylline belongs to a class of drugs known as xanthines. It works on the airways by relaxing muscles, opening up airways to improve breathing, and relieving lung irritation. Symptoms of controlled breathing problems can improve your daily activities.

This medicine does not work immediately and should not be used for sudden onset of difficulty breathing. Your doctor should prescribe a medication / inhaler aid (eg albuterol) for sudden shortness of breath / asthma attacks while you are taking this medication. You should always have an inhaler on hand. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Theophylline dosage and side effects of theophylline are detailed below.

What are the rules for using Theophylline?

Take this medication with or without food, usually once or twice daily or as directed by your doctor. If this medicine upsets your stomach, you can use it with food. This drug works best when the amounts in your body are at a constant level. Therefore, use this drug regularly. Since different manufacturers have different recommendations, ask your doctor or pharmacist about the best time to use the particular brand of teophylline you are taking.

Do not crush or chew theophylline. Doing so can release all of the drug at once, increasing the risk of side effects. Also, do not split tablets unless they have a dividing line and your doctor or pharmacist tells you to do so. Swallow all or part of the tablet without crushing or chewing.

If you are taking the capsules, swallow them whole. If you can't swallow them, you can open the capsule and sprinkle the contents on a spoonful of soft food such as applesauce or pudding. Eat the whole mixture immediately without chewing. Then drink a full glass of liquid (8 ounces or 240 milliliters). Do not prepare a drug supply for future use.

Dosage is based on your medical condition, response to treatment, age, body weight, blood level of drugs, and other medications you are taking. (See also Drug Interactions section.) Use this medication regularly for the most benefit. To help you remember, use it at the same times each day.

Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or gets worse.

Follow the rules given by your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How is theophylline stored?

This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Theophylline dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dosage for theophylline medicine for adults?

• Initial dose: 5 mg / kg initial dose (patient not receiving Theophylline or aminophylline).
• Maintenance dose: for healthy adults who do not smoke: 10 mg / kg / day. Do not exceed 900 mg / day.
• For healthy smokers: 16 mg / kg / day.
• Patients with congenital heart failure or cor pulmonale: 5 mg / kg / day. Do not exceed 400 mg / day.

What is the dosage of theophylline drug for children?

Initial dosage:

If Theophylline is not given within 24 hours: 5 mg / kg initial dose to achieve a serum concentration of about 10 mcg / mL; the initial dose should be given using a rapidly absorbable oral product rather than a continuous product).

If Theophylline has been given within 24 hours: 2.5 mg / kg Theophylline can be given in an emergency when serum concentrations are not available.

Maintenance dosage:

• Infants less than 42 days: 4 mg / kg / day orally.
• Infants 42 days to 181 days: 10 mg / kg / day orally. alternative dose: x kg = 24 hours oral dose in milligrams.
• Infants 6 months, less than 12 months: 12 to 18 mg / kg / day. Alternative dose: x kg = 24 hours oral dose in milligrams.
• 1 - 8 years: 20-24 mg / kg / day.
• 9 - 11 years: 16 mg / kg / day.
• 12-15 years: 13 mg / kg / day.
• 16 years or older: 10 mg / kg / day. Do not exceed 900 mg / day.

In what dosage is theophylline available?

• Capsules: 100 mg; 200 mg; 300 mg; 400 mg
• Elixir: 80 mg / 15 mL (473 mL)
• 15/80 mg mL of solution
• 100 mg tablet; 200 mg; 300 mg; 450 mg; 600 mg.

Theophylline side effects

What are the possible side effects of theophylline?

Less serious side effects of theophylline may include:

• Stomach pain, diarrhea
• Headache
• Sweating
• Sleep problems (insomnia)
• Feeling restless, nervous, or irritable

Stop using Theophylline and call your doctor if you have any of the following serious side effects:

• Severe and persistent vomiting;
• Fast or uneven heartbeat
• Seizures
• Confusion, tremor or trembling;
• Nausea and vomiting, severe headache, fast heart rate;
• Low potassium (confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, discomfort in the legs, muscle weakness or a feeling of weakness); or
• High blood sugar (increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, dry mouth, bad breath, drowsiness, dry skin, blurred vision, weight loss)

Not everyone experiences the following side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Theophylline Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using Theophylline?

In deciding to use medication, the risks of taking the drug must be considered. It is up to you and your doctor. For this drug, the following should be considered:

Allergy

Tell your doctor if you have ever had an unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read labels or ingredients carefully.

Children

Studies conducted to date have not shown specific pediatric problems that will limit the use of Theophylline in children. However, young children at 1 year of age are more likely to have serious side effects, which may require an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving Theophylline.

Elderly

The exact studies conducted to date have not shown specific parental problems that will limit the use of Theophylline in the elderly. However, elderly patients may be more sensitive to the effects of Theophylline than young people, and more likely to have kidney, liver, heart, or lung problems, which may require an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving Theophylline.

Is Theophylline safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women?

There is no adequate research on the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This medicine is considered a pregnancy risk category C according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = Not at risk
• B = No risk in several studies
• C = May be risky
• D = There is positive evidence of risk
• X = Contraindicated
• N = Unknown

Theophylline Drug Interactions

What medicines may interact with Theophylline?

Drug interactions can change the performance of your medications or increase the risk of serious side effects. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this document. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval.

Although some drugs should not be taken at the same time, in other cases some drugs can also be used together even though interactions may occur. In such cases, the doctor may change the dose, or take other preventive measures as needed. Tell your doctor if you are taking any other over-the-counter or prescription drugs.

Using this medication with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this drug or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Amifampridine
• Riociguat

Using this medication with any of the following medicines is not usually recommended, but may be necessary in some cases. If the two drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both drugs.

• Acrivastine
• Adenosine
• Blinatumomab
• Bupropion
• Ceritinib
• Cimetidine
• Ciprofloxacin
• Cobicistat
• Deferasirox
• Desogestrel
• Dienogest
• Dihydroartemisinin
• Drospirenone
• Enoxacin
• Erythromycin
• Estradiol Cypionate
• Estradiol Valerate
• Ethinyl Estradiol
• Ethynodiol Diacetate
• Etintidine
• Etonogestrel
• Fluconazole
• Fluvoxamine
• Fosphenytoin
• Halothane
• Idelalisib
• Idrocilamide
• Imipenem
• Levofloxacin
• Levonorgestrel
• Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
• Mestranol
• Mexiletine
• Nilotinib
• Norelgestromin
• Norethindrone
• Norgestimate
• Norgestrel
• Pefloxacin
• Peginterferon Alfa-2a
• Peginterferon Alfa-2b
• Phenytoin
• Pixantrone
• Regadenoson
• Rofecoxib
• Siltuximab
• Thiabendazole
• Troleandomycin
• Vemurafenib
• Zileuton

Using this medication with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If the two drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both drugs.

• Adinazolam
• Alprazolam
• Aminoglutethimide
• Amiodarone
• Azithromycin
• Bromazepam
• Brotizolam
• Cannabis
• Carbamazepine
• Chlordiazepoxide
• Clobazam
• Clonazepam
• Clorazepate
• Diazepam
• Disulfiram
• Estazolam
• Febuxostat
• Flunitrazepam
• Flurazepam
• Halazepam
• Interferon Alfa-2a
• Ipriflavone
• Isoproterenol
• Ketazolam
• Lorazepam
• Lormetazepam
• Medazepam
• Methotrexate
• Midazolam
• Nilutamide
• Nitrazepam
• Oxazepam
• Pancuronium
• Pentoxifylline
• Phenobarbital
• Piperine
• Prazepam
• Propafenone
• Quazepam
• Rifampin
• Rifapentine
• Riluzole
• Ritonavir
• Secobarbital
• St. John's Wort
• Tacrine
• Tacrolimus
• Telithromycin
• Temazepam
• Ticlopidine
• Triazolam
• Viloxazine
• Zafirlukast

Can food or alcohol interact with Theophylline?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

Using this medication with one of the following is usually not recommended, but it may be unavoidable in some cases. When used together, your doctor may change your dose or how often you use this medication, or give specific instructions about use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

• Tobacco

Using this medication with any of the following may cause an increased risk of certain side effects but may in some cases unavoidable. When used together, your doctor may change your dose or how often you use this medication, or give specific instructions about use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

• Caffeine
• Food

What health conditions may interact with Theophylline?

The presence of other health problems in your body may affect the use of this medicine. Tell your doctor if you have other health problems .:

• Congenital heart failure or
• Cor pulmonal (heart condition) or
• Fever of 38.8 degrees Celsius or higher for 24 hours or more or
• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) or
• Severe infection (eg, sepsis) or
• Kidney disease in infants younger than 3 months of age or
• Liver disease (eg, cirrhosis, hepatitis) or
• Pulmonary edema (lung condition) or
• Shock (serious condition with very little blood flow in the body) -Use with caution. The effect can be increased due to the slow cleansing of the drug from the body.
• Heart rhythm problems (for example, arrhythmias) or
• Seizures, or a history, or
• Ulcer - Use with caution. It might make things worse

Theophylline overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, use it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.