Theophylline, Oral

Type of medicine: xanthine bronchodilator

Generic and brand names: theophylline, oral; Elixophyllin Elixir; Quibron-T Dividose; Quibron-T/SR Dividose; T-Phyl; Theolair; Theo-24; Theochron; Theophylline Elixir; Theophylline SR Capsules; Theophylline SR Tablets; Theophylline Solution; Uniphyl

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

Before taking this medicine, tell your health care 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 health care provider if you smoke.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your health care 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 health care provider's approval.

Take this medicine exactly as your health care provider prescribes every 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.

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 health care provider.

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 health care 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 health care 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 health care provider if you have diarrhea that continues.

Certain types of diets (such as high protein, low carbohydrate, or high fat diets) may affect how this medicine works. Discuss this with your health care provider.

Contact your health care 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 health care provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

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

Diabetics: This medicine may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to your health care provider about this.

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 health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your health care 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.

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 health care provider if you are taking:

• allopurinol (Aloprim, Zyloprim)
• aminoglutethimide (Cytadren)
• antibiotics such as erythromycin (Ery-Tabs, E.E.S., Eryc), clarithromycin (Biaxin), azithromycin (Zithromax), troleandomycin (Tao), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), gatifloxacin (Tequin), rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane), and isoniazid (Nydrazid)
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol, Epitol) and phenytoin (Dilantin)
• barbiturates such as phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton) , amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), pentobarbital (Nembutal), and secobarbital (Seconal)
• beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), acebutolol (Sectral), betaxolol (Kerlone), carteolol (Cartrol), bisoprolol (Zebeta), pindolol (Visken), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), timolol (Blocadren), 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)
• antidepressants such as bupropion (Wellbutrin) and fluvoxamine (Luvox)
• antiplatelet medicines such as pentoxifylline (Trental) and ticlopidine (Ticlid)
• charcoal
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• corticosteroids such as cortisone (Cortone), betamethasone (Celestone), dexamethasone (Decadron), fludrocortisone (Florinef), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone, A-HydroCort), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone (Meticorten, Deltasone, Orasone), 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
• sulfinpyrazone (Anturane)
• tacrine (Cognex)
• 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. Discuss this with your health care provider.

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

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 health care 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.