Theophylline, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: xanthine bronchodilator

Generic and brand names: theophylline, oral; Elixophyllin Elixir; Theolair; Theo-24; Theochron; Theophylline Elixir; Theophylline SR Tablets; Theophylline Solution; Uniphyl

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken to treat the symptoms of lung problems such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• an irregular heart beat (arrhythmia)
• heart failure
• high blood pressure
• liver disease
• migraine headaches
• seizures
• thyroid disease
• ulcers

Tell your healthcare provider if you smoke.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes every day. It works best if you take it at the same times each day. Do not take more of it or take it longer than prescribed.

The liquid, tablets, and capsules work best when taken with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. Swallow tablets and capsules whole. Do not crush or chew them.

Sprinkle Capsules can be opened and the beads sprinkled onto applesauce, pudding, or other soft food. You may also swallow the beads with water, without chewing. The capsules may also be swallowed whole with water.

Do not change the brand you are taking. Other brands of this medicine may affect you differently.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: nausea, vomiting, headache, tremors, restlessness, irregular heartbeat, seizures.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may increase the stimulant effects of caffeine. Avoid foods and drinks containing caffeine (for example, coffee, tea, cocoa, colas, and chocolate). Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

You may need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

Tell your healthcare provider if you develop a fever or flu symptoms, which may affect how this medicine works and increase the risk of side effects. Also tell your healthcare provider if you have diarrhea that continues.

Certain types of diets (such as high protein, low carbohydrate, or high fat diets), or eating char-broiled foods may affect how this medicine works. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

Contact your healthcare provider if your condition does not improve in a few days or if it gets worse.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

Do not smoke, drink alcohol, or take other medicines unless your healthcare provider approves.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, vomiting blood, abdominal pain, irregular or rapid (pounding) heartbeat, seizures, muscle twitching, rapid breathing, headache that does not go away, trouble sleeping.

Other: Increased urination, nervousness, rash.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• allopurinol (Aloprim, Zyloprim)
• antibiotics such as erythromycin (Ery-Tabs, E.E.S.), clarithromycin (Biaxin), azithromycin (Zithromax), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), levofloxacin (Levaquin), rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane), and isoniazid (Nydrazid)
• antidepressants such as bupropion (Wellbutrin) and fluvoxamine (Luvox)
• antiplatelet medicines such as pentoxifylline (Trental) and ticlopidine (Ticlid)
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol, Epitol) and phenytoin (Dilantin)
• barbiturates such as phenobarbital, butabarbital (Butisol), and pentobarbital (Nembutal)
• benzodiazepines such as lorazepam (Ativan), diazepam (Valium), temazepam (Restoril), flurazepam (Dalmane), and oxazepam (Serax)
• beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), acebutolol (Sectral), betaxolol (Kerlone), carteolol, bisoprolol (Zebeta), pindolol, metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), timolol, sotalol (Betapace), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), and carvedilol (Coreg)
• birth control pills
• calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiamate, Tiazac), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), isradipine (DynaCirc), felodipine (Plendil), amlodipine (Norvasc), and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan)
• charbroiled food
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• corticosteroids such as cortisone (Cortone), betamethasone (Celestone), dexamethasone, fludrocortisone (Florinef), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone, A-HydroCort), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone (Meticorten), prednisolone (Delta-Cortef), and triamcinolone (Aristocort, Kenacort)
• disulfiram (Antabuse)
• diuretics such as furosemide (Lasix), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), torsemide (Demadex), and bumetanide (Bumex)
• ephedrine, pseudoephedrine (Sudafed, and other cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine), and epinephrine (EpiPen)
• flu vaccine
• foods and drinks containing caffeine (coffee, tea, cocoa, colas, and chocolate)
• heart medicines such as mexiletine (Mexitil), moricizine (Ethmozine), and propafenone (Rythmol)
• interferon alpha 2a (Roferon-A) and interferon alpha 2b (Intron A, Rebetron)
• ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
• methotrexate
• smoking (cigarettes or marijuana)
• St. John's wort
• thiabendazole (Mintezol)
• thyroid hormones such as levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid, Unithroid), thyroid (Armour thyroid), and liotrix (Thyrolar)
• zileuton (Zyflo)

The effects of this medicine may be increased if you take it with grapefruit juice. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.