Theophylline ER (Theophylline)

Theophylline extended-release (ER) is a medicine used to treat symptoms associated with long-term asthma and other lung diseases, such as emphysema (lung disease that causes shortness of breath) and chronic bronchitis (long-term inflammation of the lungs).

Your doctor will monitor your blood theophylline levels and will adjust your dose of theophylline ER appropriately. Your blood theophylline levels can increase if you take theophylline ER while you have heart diseases, such as heart failure or cor pulmonale (right-sided heart failure); persistent fever; hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland); liver disease, such as cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or hepatitis; kidney impairment in infants <3 months; sepsis (a bloodstream infection) with failure of multiple organs; shock; or cessation of smoking. Tell your doctor if you have any of these conditions, and he/she will decrease your total daily dose of theophylline ER appropriately. Tell your doctor if you develop symptoms of theophylline toxicity (such as nausea, vomiting, persistent headache, insomnia, or rapid heartbeat) while you are taking theophylline ER. Theophylline ER can worsen stomach ulcers, seizures, and arrhythmias (life-threatening irregular heartbeats). Tell your doctor if you have any of these conditions. Tell your doctor if you develop a new illness, worsening of a long-term illness, start or stop smoking cigarettes or marijuana, start a new medication, or stop using any of your previously prescribed medications while you are taking theophylline ER.