O General Information and Indications:
Theophylline is used to prevent and
treat wheezing, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing caused by
asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and other lung diseases. It relaxes
and opens air passages in the lungs, making it easier to breathe.
O Information For Users:
Theophylline comes as a tablet, capsule, solution,
and syrup to take by mouth. It is usually taken every 6, 8, 12, or 24 hours.
Follow the directions on your prescription label, ask your doctor or
pharmacist If you have any questions. Take theophylline exactly as directed.
Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your
health care provider.
Take this medication with a full glass of water on an empty stomach, at
least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. Do not chew or crush the
extended-release (long-acting) tablets; swallow them whole. Extended-release
capsules (e.g., Theo-Dur Sprinkles) may be swallowed whole or opened and the
contents mixed with soft food and swallowed without chewing.
Theophylline controls symptoms of asthma and other lung diseases but does
not cure them. Continue taking theophylline even if you feel well. Do not
discontinue taking theophylline without informing your doctor.
Other uses for this medicine
Theophylline is sometimes used to treat breathing problems in premature
infants. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for
your baby's condition.
O Special
precautions:
o Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have
allergy to theophylline or any other medications.
o Inform your doctor and pharmacist what prescription medications you are
taking, especially allopurinol (Zyloprim), azithromycin (Zithromax),
carbamazepine (Tegretol), cimetidine (Tagamet), ciprofloxacin (Cipro),
clarithromycin (Biaxin), diuretics ('water pills'), erythromycin, lithium (Eskalith,
Lithobid), oral contraceptives, phenytoin (Dilantin), prednisone (Deltasone),
propranolol (Inderal), rifampin (Rifadin), tetracycline (Sumycin), and other
medications for infections or heart disease.
o Inform your doctor and pharmacist what nonprescription medications and
vitamins you are taking, including ephedrine, epinephrine, phenylephrine,
phenylpropanolamine, or pseudoephedrine. Many nonprescription products
contain these drugs (e.g., diet pills and medications for colds and asthma),
so check labels carefully. Do not take these medications without informing
your doctor; they can increase the side effects of theophylline.
o inform your doctor if you are breast-feeding seizures, ulcers, heart
disease, an overactive or underactive thyroid gland, high blood pressure, or
liver disease or if you have a history of alcohol abuse.
o Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are
breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking theophylline, call your
doctor.
o Inform your doctor if you use tobacco products. Cigarette smoking may
decrease the effectiveness of theophylline.
Drinking or eating foods high in caffeine, like coffee, tea, cocoa, and
chocolate, may increase the side effects caused by theophylline. Avoid large
amounts of these substances while you are taking theophylline.
O
Possible Adverse
Effects:
Though adverse effects of theophylline are not
common, they could occur. Inform your doctor if any of the following
symptoms are severe or do not go away.
o upset stomach
o stomach pain
o diarrhea
o headache
o restlessness
o insomnia (sleeplessness)
o irritability
If you have any of the following symptoms, call your doctor without delay:
o vomiting
o increased or rapid heart rate
o irregular heartbeat
o seizures
o skin rash
O Brand Name(s):
o Bronkodyl®
o Elixophyllin®
o Slo-bid®
o Theolair®
o Uniphyl®
o Slo-Phyllin®
o Theo-24®
o Theo-Dur® |
