Theophylline Dosage

When you are first starting treatment with theophylline, dosage recommendations will be based on a number of factors. Your healthcare provider may need to monitor the level of theophylline in your blood for days or weeks before determining an appropriate dosage for you. This is because high levels of theophylline can cause toxicity and dangerous side effects, and some people may clear the drug from their systems more quickly or more slowly than average.

 

An Introduction to Theophylline Dosage

The dose of theophylline that your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • The particular theophylline product
  • Your age
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medications you may be taking.
     
As always, do not adjust your theophylline dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 
Theophylline Dosing for Asthma
It can be difficult to find the optimal theophylline dosage for a particular person. Because too much theophylline can cause toxicity and dangerous side effects, most healthcare providers will monitor the level of theophylline in your blood to make sure you are not getting too much. Often, it may take several days or weeks to find the best theophylline dosage for you. Many medications, as well as alcohol and tobacco products, can affect the way your body deals with theophylline. Also, some people clear theophylline from the bodies more quickly or more slowly than average.
 
Try to take your theophylline exactly as prescribed, and be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have missed doses (or taken extra doses). He or she will need this information in order to interpret your blood levels of theophylline and to recommend the proper theophylline dose.
 
Most theophylline products are not interchangeable. If you switch from one theophylline product to another, your healthcare provider will probably want to check your theophylline blood levels to see if your theophylline dosage needs to be adjusted.
 
(Theophylline Dosage Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;