This medication is used to treat and prevent wheezing and trouble breathing caused by ongoing lung disease (e.g.

, asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis). Theophylline belongs to a class of drugs known as xanthines. It works in the airways by relaxing muscles, opening air passages to improve breathing, and decreasing the lungs' response to irritants. Controlling symptoms of breathing problems can decrease time lost from work or school. This medication does not work immediately and should not be used for sudden attacks of breathing trouble. Your doctor should prescribe a quick-relief medicine/inhaler (e.g., albuterol) for sudden attacks of shortness of breath/asthma while you are on this medication. You should always have a quick-relief inhaler with you. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. How to use theophylline oral Take this medication by mouth with or without food, usually once or twice daily or as directed by your doctor. If this medication upsets your stomach, you may take it with food. This medicine works best when the amount in your body is kept at a constant level. Therefore, use this drug at evenly spaced intervals. Since different manufacturers have different recommendations, check with your doctor or pharmacist about the best time(s) to take your particular brand of theophylline. Do not crush or chew this medication. Doing so can release all of the drug at once, increasing the risk of side effects. Also, do not split the tablets unless they have a score line and your doctor or pharmacist tells you to do so. Swallow the whole or split tablet without crushing or chewing. If you are taking the capsules, swallow them whole. If you are unable to swallow them, you may open the capsule and sprinkle the contents onto a spoonful of cool, soft food such as applesauce or pudding. Eat the entire mixture immediately without chewing. Then drink a full glass of liquid (8 ounces or 240 milliliters). Do not prepare a supply for future use. Dosage is based on your medical condition, response to treatment, age, weight, drug blood levels, and other drugs you may be taking. (See also Drug Interactions section.) Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same times each day. Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

What Is Theophylline/Theofylline?
What Kind of Medications Are There For COPD?

What Are Bronchodilators? What Are Beta-Agonists?

What Are Anticholinergic Medications? What Are Corticosteroid (Anti-Inflammatory) Medications? What Are Combination Drugs? What Are Antibiotics? What Are Mucolytic Agents?

Theophylline medications are the third in the group of bronchodilators that affect the muscles in the breathing tubes. These drugs, however, are also believed to help decrease swelling in your lungs. When the lungs are irritated, the muscle bands around the breathing passages can tighten making the breathing tube smaller. Theophylline stimulates the muscles so that they relaxe, making the breathing tubes widen, making it easier to breathe.

What kinds of theophylline medication are there? Like the other bronchodilators, there are short- and long-acting theophylline drugs. Shortacting theophylline drugs last 6-12 hours while long-acting theophylline drugs last 24 hours. Examples of short-acting theophylline drugs are Theo Dur, Theofylline, Theolair and Theochron, and long-acting are Theo-24, Theolair retard and Uniphyl. A list of short-acting theophyllines Generic Brand name How it Dosage name is given Theophylline Choledyl, Elixophyllin, Neulin depot, Tablets Up to 800 mg Liquid daily, but the Phyllocontin,Quibron-T Respbid, Slo-Bid, amount must be Slo-Phyllin, Theochron, Theo Dur, Theofyllin, carefully regulated Theolair, Uniphyllin #: dosages may vary by generic product, i.e. higher dosages for one generic drug does not mean they are less strong than another generic product with a lower dosage. mg stands for milligram. A list of long-acting theophyllines Generic name Brand name How it is Dosage given Theophylline Theo-24, Unidur, Tablets Up to 800 mg daily, but the amount Liquid must be carefully regulated Theochron SR #: dosages may vary by generic product, i.e. higher dosages for one generic drug does not mean they are less strong than another generic product with a lower dosage. mg stands for milligram. What problems (side-effects) should I watch for with theophylline? Theophylline dosages require careful management, since serious side-effects can occur from too much theophylline. A blood test is available to determine safe levels of theophylline in the blood, however, various situations can cause levels to fluctuate. Other medications, smoking (or stopping smoking), alcohol, viral infections and heart failure can all cause levels to suddenly increase or decrease. The most common side-affects are trembling, nausea, headache, dizziness, heartburn, stomach pain, loss of appetite, restlessness, nervousness and sleeplessness. More serious side-

effects, such as vomiting, heart irregularities (arrhythmias) and seizures, can occur. If you experience any of these serious side-effects, you should seek medical care immediately. How often and how much should I take? How often you take theophylline will depend on long the drug lasts. A common dosage of theophylline is 200-400 mg twice daily, however, each person will vary. Theophylline drugs must be used only as prescribed because of the potential for serious side-effects. Blood levels of theophylline should be checked shortly after starting treatment, then regularly after that time. Theophylline drugs are best taken on an empty stomach, either 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. If you experience a stomach upset when taking theophylline, taking the tablets with food may reduce the stomach upset. Theophylline drugs work best if they are taken at about the same time each day. Long-acting capsules and tablets must be swallowed whole. If capsules are too large to swallow, the capsule can be opened and the contents mixed with jam. This mixture should be swallowed without chewing. What should I do if I forget to take my theophylline medication? If you are not certain whether you have taken your dosage of theophylline, do not take any until the next dosage is due. If you have taken an extra dosage and notice side-effects, call your healthcare provider for advice. If you have taken an extra dosage and do not have sideeffects, skip your next dose.