Adult Dosing

Bronchoconstriction

• Initial: 400-600 mg PO bid; may increase by 3-4 mg/kg/day at 3 -day intervals till desired response is achieved
• Max: 1600 mg/day

• Do not chew, crush tab
• Adjust dose according to the response and/or serum theophylline level which should be in the range of 55 -110 micromol/L (10-20 mg/L)

Pediatric Dosing

• Therapy is not recommended in pediatric patients

• Maintenance therapy for the symptomatic relief of reversible bronchoconstriction associated with bronchial asthma, pulmonary emphysema, chronic bronchitis and related bronchospastic disorders

• Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients of the product
• Hypersensitivity to theophylline derivatives
• Coronary artery disease

• N/A

Renal Dose Adjustment

• Renal impairment: Dose adjustments not defined

Hepatic Dose Adjustment

• Hepatic impairment: Dose adjustments not defined, caution advised

• Use of therapy is not recommended in pediatric patients
• Caution should be exercised in patients with severe hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases
• Risk of exacerbation of cardiac arrhythmias
• Measure serum theophylline during therapy and individualize dose regimens accordingly
• Avoid overdoses of therapy which may cause peripheral vascular collapse
• Caution should be exercised when sympathomimetic amines or other xanthines are used concurrently
• Use with caution in patients with severe pulmonary or cardiovascular disease and in patients with hepatic dysfunction as metabolism of theophylline may be impaired
• Therapy may cause an elevation of serum uric acid, urine catecholamines and plasma free fatty acids

Cautions: Use cautiously in

• Hepatic impairment
• Severe hypertension
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Severe pulmonary disease
• Thyroid Disease
• Seizure disorders
• Active smoker

Pregnancy Category: Not Applicable

Breastfeeding: Safety unknown. Manufacturer recommends use in nursing mothers only if clearly needed.

• GI: Gastric irritation, nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain, anorexia, reactivation of peptic ulcers, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, intestinal bleeding, hematemesis, dehydration
• RESP: Tachypnea, respiratory arrest
• CNS: Headache, nervousness, insomnia, dizziness, lightheadedness, irritability, restlessness, reflex hyperexcitability, muscle twitching, clonic-tonic generalized convulsions, hyperreflexia, fasciculations, syncope, collapse
• NEURO: Tremor, seizures, intracranial hemorrhage
• CV: Ventricular arrhythmias, palpitation, hypotension, circulatory failure, tachycardia, extrasystole, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, flushing
• GU: Albuminuria, diuresis, hematuria, microhematuria
• DERM: Urticaria, generalized pruritus, angioneurotic edema, contact dermatitis, rash, alopecia, Stevens-Johnson syndrome
• HEMA: Bone marrow suppression, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, hemorrhagic diathesis
• ENDO: Hyperglycemia, inappropriate ADH syndrome
• MISC: Fever

• Theophylline salt; relaxes muscles in lungs and chest to allow more air in, decreases the sensitivity of lungs to allergens and other substances that cause inflammation, and increases the contractions of diaphragm to draw more air into the lungs
• Metabolized by liver
• Excreted in urine
• Half-life: Unknown

US Trade Name(s)

• Choledyl SA

US Availability

Choledyl SA

• ETABS: 400, 600 mg

Canadian Trade Name(s)

• Choledyl

Canadian Availability

oxtriphylline (generic)

• TABS: 100, 200, 300 mg
• SYRUP: 10 mg/mL

Choledyl

• ELIXIR: 100 mg/5 mL

UK Trade Name(s)

• N/A

UK Availability

• N/A

Australian Trade Name(s)

• N/A

Australian Availability

• N/A

Pulmonary

Bronchodilators

Methylxanthines

Allergy & Immunology

Bronchodilators

Methylxanthines