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Theophylline Drug Interactions
Among the drugs that can potentially interact with theophylline are alcohol, cimetidine, and certain antibiotics. Theophylline drug interactions can alter the level of theophylline in your blood or make some drugs less effective, among other things. To reduce the risk of developing potentially dangerous drug interactions with theophylline, you should talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about any theophylline interactions that may apply to you.
Theophylline can potentially interact with many other medicines. Some of these medicines that may lead to theophylline interactions include:
- Alcohol
- Allopurinol (Aloprim®, Zyloprim®)
- Certain antibiotics, including:
- Ciprofloxacin (Cipro®)
- Clarithromycin (Biaxin®, Biaxin XL®)
- Erythromycin (Ery-Tab®)
- Certain benzodiazepines, including:
- Certain seizure medications, including:
- Cimetidine (Tagamet®)
- Disulfiram (Antabuse®)
- Estrogen-containing medications, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
- Fluvoxamine (Luvox®)
- Interferon alpha-2a (Roferon A®) or peginterferon alpha-2a (Pegasys®)
- Lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®)
- Methotrexate (Rheumatrex®)
- Mexiletine (Mexitil®)
- Moricizine (Ethmozine®)
- Pentoxifylline (Trental®)
- Propafenone (Rythmol®)
- Propranolol (Inderal®, Inderal LA®, InnoPran XL®)
- Rifampin (Rifadin®)
- St. John's wort
- Tacrine (Cognex®)
- Ticlopidine (Ticlid®)
- Tobacco products
- Verapamil (Calan®, Verelan®).
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD