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Theophylline is a bronchodilator that is used to treat symptoms of asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and other breathing problems.
Theophylline may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Never use theophylline in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Seek medical attention if your breathing problems get worse quickly, or if you think your medications are not working as well.
Overdose can occur if you take too much theophylline at one time, or if your daily doses are too high.
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can interact with theophylline.
You should not use theophylline if you are allergic to it.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
a gastric or peptic ulcer;
a serious infection called sepsis;
liver disease (especially cirrhosis or hepatitis);
fluid in your lungs;
heart problems;
a thyroid disorder;
seizures; or
kidney disease.
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol, or if you smoke or have recently quit smoking cigarettes or marijuana.
Also tell your doctor if you have been sick with a high fever (102 degrees or higher) for 24 hours or longer.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Do not give theophylline to a child without medical advice.
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Never use theophylline in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed.
Theophylline is not a rescue medicine for asthma or bronchospasm attacks. Use only fast-acting inhalation medicine for an attack. Seek medical attention if your breathing problems get worse quickly, or if you think your medications are not working as well.
Swallow the capsule or tablet whole and do not crush or chew it. You may break a scored tablet in half if needed to get the correct dose.
Some tablets are made with a shell that is not absorbed or melted in the body. Part of this shell may appear in your stool. This is normal and will not make the medicine less effective.
Measure liquid medicine carefully. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).
Your dose and the number of times you take theophylline daily will depend on the reason you are taking this medication.
Follow your doctor's instructions about whether to take your medication with food or on an empty stomach.
Your dose needs may change if you are ill, or if you switch to a different brand, strength, or form of this medicine. Avoid medication errors by using only the form and strength your doctor prescribes.
You will need regular medical tests to be sure you are using the right dose. Do not change your dose or dosing schedule without your doctor's advice.
Theophylline doses are based on weight in children. Your child's dose needs may change if the child gains or loses weight.
This medicine can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using theophylline.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
Skip the missed dose and use your next dose at the regular time. Do not use two doses at one time.
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Seizures caused by a theophylline overdose can cause death or permanent brain damage.
Theophylline overdose can occur if you accidentally take too much at one time. Overdose can also occur slowly over time if your daily doses are too high. To be sure you are using the correct dose, your blood will need to be tested often.
Overdose symptoms may include severe nausea and vomiting, seizure, slow heart rate, weak pulse, or fainting.
Do not start or stop smoking without first talking to your doctor. Smoking changes the way your body uses theophylline, and you may need to use a different dose.
Avoid taking an herbal supplement containing St. John's wort.
Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how theophylline will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
severe or continued vomiting;
ongoing headache, trouble sleeping;
rapid heartbeats;
a seizure;
new signs of illness (especially fever);
low potassium level--leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness or limp feeling; or
high blood sugar--increased thirst, increased urination, dry mouth, fruity breath odor.
Serious side effects may be more likely in older adults.
Common side effects may include:
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
headache;
sleep problems (insomnia);
tremors;
sweating; or
feeling restless or irritable.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.
If you take St. John's wort regularly, do not stop taking it without first asking your doctor. Starting or stopping St. John's wort can affect your blood levels of theophylline.
Many drugs can affect theophylline. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Medically reviewed by USARx EDITORIAL TEAM Last updated on 1/1/2020.
Source: Drugs.com Theophylline (www.drugs.com/mtm/theophylline.html).
Commonly reported side effects of theophylline include: acid-base imbalance. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.
Applies to theophylline: oral capsule extended release 24 hr, oral elixir, oral solution, oral tablet extended release, oral tablet extended release 12 hr, oral tablet extended release 24 hr
Other dosage forms:
Along with its needed effects, theophylline may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking theophylline:
Incidence not known
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking theophylline:
Symptoms of overdose
Some side effects of theophylline may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Incidence not known
Applies to theophylline: compounding powder, intravenous solution, oral capsule, oral capsule extended release, oral elixir, oral solution, oral syrup, oral tablet, oral tablet extended release
Adverse events are generally mild when theophylline levels are under 20 mcg/mL; the most common adverse events were caffeine-like adverse effects like nausea, vomiting, headache, and insomnia.
When theophylline concentrations exceed 20 mcg/mL, many adverse effects may occur, including persistent vomiting, cardiac arrhythmias, and intractable seizures, which may be fatal.
Very common (10% or more): Sinus tachycardia (up to 100% in acute overdose, up to 100% with chronic overdose), ventricular arrhythmias with hemodynamic instability (14% in acute overdose, 40% with chronic overdose), other supraventricular tachycardias (21% in acute overdose, 14% with chronic overdose), ventricular premature beats (21% in acute overdose, 19% with chronic overdose), hypotension/shock (21% in acute overdose, 8% with chronic overdose), atrial fibrillation or flutter (1% in acute overdose, 12% with chronic overdose)
Common (1% to 10%): Multifocal atrial tachycardia (2% with chronic overdose)
Frequency not reported: Cardiac arrhythmias (at serum concentrations over 20 mcg/mL), multifocal atrial tachycardia and flutter (at serum concentrations 15 mcg/mL and over in hypoxia secondary to COPD patients)
-A few seizures have been reported in patients with underlying neurological disease or in elderly patients with serum theophylline under 20 mcg/mL.
-Seizures in elderly patients with serum theophylline under 20 mcg/mL may be due to decreased protein binding causing higher unbound (pharmacologically active) theophylline levels.
-Seizures in patients with serum theophylline under 20 mcg/mL were generally milder (than those from overdose) such as being transient, not requiring anticonvulsants, and no neurological residuals.
-Consider the possibility of non-convulsive status epilepticus in patients with abnormal central nervous system function and theophylline use.
Very common (10% or more): Vomiting (93% in acute overdose, 61% with chronic overdose), abdominal pain (21% in acute overdose, 12% with chronic overdose), diarrhea (14% with chronic overdose)
Common (1% to 10%): Hematemesis (2% with chronic overdose)
Frequency not reported: Nausea, vomiting, persistent vomiting (at serum concentrations over 20 mcg/mL), diarrhea
Very common (10% or more): Tremors (38% in acute overdose, 16% with chronic overdose), seizures (14% in acute overdose, 14% with chronic overdose)
Frequency not reported: Headache, intractable seizures (at serum concentrations over 20 mcg/mL), seizures
Very common (10% or more): Hyperglycemia (98% in acute overdose, 18% with chronic overdose), hypokalemia (85% in acute overdose, 44% with chronic overdose), acid/base disturbance (34% in acute overdose, 9% with chronic overdose)
Frequency not reported: Hypercalcemia (in a hyperthyroid patient), hypervolemia
Very common (10% or more): Nervousness (64% in acute overdose, 21% with chronic overdose), disorientation (7% in acute overdose, 12% with chronic overdose)
Frequency not reported: Insomnia, irritability, restlessness
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Rhabdomyolysis (7% in acute overdose)
Frequency not reported: Fine skeletal muscle tremors
Very common (10% or more): Death (21% in acute overdose, 10% with chronic overdose)
Frequency not reported: Febrile response
Frequency not reported: Transient diuresis
Frequency not reported: Infection at the site of injection, venous thrombosis or phlebitis extending from the site of injection, extravasation
Medically reviewed by USARx EDITORIAL TEAM Last updated on 1/1/2020.
Source: Drugs.com Theophylline (www.drugs.com/mtm/theophylline.html).
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