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Theophylline is a bronchodilator medicine that opens airways by relaxing the muscles in and around the airways that tighten during an asthma episode.
How It Is Prescribed
Theophylline comes in three forms:
- Tablets to be swallowed
- Capsules to be swallowed
- Liquid to be swallowed
Do not chew theophylline if taken in a tablet form, because too much of the time-released medicine will be released all at once.
If theophylline is taken in capsule form, you may open up the capsule and sprinkle it on a small amount of sweet, soft food such as yogurt, jelly, or honey to disguise the taste. Do not chew the capsule.
Do not mix theophylline with hot food. This will dissolve the medicine and release too much into the body.
Take theophylline with food rather than on an empty stomach.
If you forget to take your theophylline on time, do not take twice as much the next time. Take the normal amount as soon as you remember. Call your doctor about how to get back on schedule.
Side Effects
Side effects may include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, headache, muscle cramps, irregular heartbeat, and/or feeling shaky or restless. Call your doctor if you have any of these side effects. It may mean that the amount of medicine you are taking should be changed. Mild side effects often go away after a few days.
Notes
Theophylline may be prescribed every 8 or every 12 hours. This makes it an easy medicine to use.
It takes some time for theophylline to build up in the blood stream, where it must stay at a constant amount to have a lasting effect. This means that it is important for you to take it at the time and in the amount that the doctor says.
Your doctor will do a simple blood test to see if the medicine is at the right level.
If your child has a fever or a virus (for example, chickenpox), or if your child starts taking an antibiotic, call your doctor right away. The usual dose may be too strong for your child during this time and your child may get sick from the theophylline.
(Text compiled by Virginia Thomas, CRNP)
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