Theophylline

Theophylline is a bronchodilator. Its function is to relax the muscles in the lungs and chest and it make the lung resistible to allergens and other causes of bronchospasm. It is used to avoid the condition of asthma, bronchitis and emphysema. The medication is also used for other purposes which are not listed above.

You should avoid the medication if you have allergic reaction to theophylline or any other drugs. There are some medical conditions in which you cannot take the medication or you have to carry out special tests during the treatment with theophylline. The medical conditions include stomach ulcer, fluid in the lungs, under-active thyroid, high fever, kidney disease, epilepsy or other seizure disorder, heart rhythm problem, congestive heart failure, liver disease, or if you have recently quitted smoking or marijuana. The medication belongs to FDA pregnancy category C which is harmful to an unborn baby, so you should inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to be pregnant. The medication appears in the milk of nursing mother and may be harmful to nursing baby. If you are breast-feeding a baby, then inform your doctor.



Take the medication as prescribed to you by your doctor and don’t try to take larger amount of the medication. Take the medication with one glass of water and you can take the medication with or without food. You should not crush or break the capsule because it is specially formulated to release the drugs slowly in the stomach, so if you crush the capsule then drug will be released in one time. If you are using the liquid form of the medication then for taking correct amount of dose, you should get a measuring spoon. Place the medication at room temperature and away from moisture, heat and light.

If you miss a dose then take it as soon as you remember and if the time is near to take the next scheduled dose then skip the missed dose and go back to regular scheduled doses. Don’t try to take double doses at the same time. If you suspect overdose then get emergency medical help. The symptoms of overdose include nausea, vomiting, insomnia, tremors, restlessness, uneven heartbeats and seizures. While you are taking theophylline, you should avoid the activities which require alertness. You should avoid drinks or foods that contain caffeine like coffee, tea, cola and chocolate.

If you experience the following side effects then get medical help immediately. These side effects include hives, difficulty in breathing, and swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat. Other side effects include seizure, severe nausea and vomiting, headache, irregular heartbeats, trouble sleeping, coughing up blood, fever, feeling restless, irritable, nervous, tremors, and urinating more than usual. If you feel any of the above symptoms then stop taking the medication and get emergency medical help. There are some less serious side effects like mild nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss, restlessness, tremor, or insomnia, headache, lightheadedness, or dizziness. If you experience the above side effects then you can continue your medication and discuss with your doctor about the side effects.