Theophylline is used to treat lung diseases such as asthma and COPD (bronchitis, emphysema). It must be used regularly to prevent wheezing and shortness of breath. This medication belongs to a class of drugs known as xanthines.
Theophylline is used to prevent and treat wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness caused by asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and other lung diseases. It relaxes and opens air passages in the lungs, making it easier to breathe.
Adjust dose to maintain therapeutic range; doses of 400 to 1,600 mg/day PO may be needed. Do not exceed 400 mg/day in patients with risk factors for decreased theophylline clearance, such as the elderly (older than 60 years), and in those who cannot receive recommended serum concentration monitoring.
A number of drugs have been taken into consideration as to their efficacy in preventing exercise-induced asthma (EIA), which may be a reliable model for the investigation of bronchodilating agents. 15 asthmatic patients , EIA positive (free running test), were selected for a double-blind cross-over study of a sustained-release theophylline preparation against place.
