What does a high theophylline level mean?

What does a high theophylline level mean?

High serum theophylline levels increase the risk of toxicity. Toxic effects include nausea and vomiting, headaches, gastric discomfort, diuresis, insomnia, cardiac arrhythmias, behavioral disturbances, and epileptic seizures.

When do you monitor theophylline levels?

Infusion: Serum concentration of theophylline should be measured to one expected half-life (approximately 4 hours in young children [ages 1 to 9 years], or around 8 hours in otherwise healthy adults, who do not smoke) after administering a continuous infusion, then checked every 12 to 24 hours to establish if any …

What does a low theophylline level mean?

A low level of theophylline may not produce the desired outcome. Values below 10 µg/mL have small effects on bronchospasm, and those below 5 µg/mL may not offer benefit in the treatment of asthma.

When should theophylline be taken?

Take theophylline exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Take this medication with a full glass of water on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.

Why is theophylline test done?

You may need this test if your healthcare provider gives you theophylline for a health condition. The test will help your provider determine the correct dose and see if you have too much theophylline in your body. Too much theophylline can be life-threatening.

How quickly does theophylline work?

This medication should take effect within 1 to 2 days, and you should see improvements in your pet’s clinical signs.

Is theophylline used anymore?

While theophylline has been used in the treatment of asthma since 1922, it has since fallen in and out of favor with doctors and, today, is not as commonly used as it once was.

How often to check theophylline level?

Answer: Always check with your doctor on to see when you should take your theophylline. A suggested guideline is to space it out evenly over a 24 hour period. For example: twice daily-every 12 hours; 3 times a day–every 8 hours.

Is theophylline still available?

Theophylline is a prescription drug. It’s available as an oral solution, an extended-release tablet, and an extended-release capsule. It’s also available in an intravenous (IV) form, which is only given by a healthcare provider. The theophylline tablet is only available as a generic drug.

What does theophylline mean?

Definition of theophylline. : a feebly basic bitter crystalline compound C 7H 8N 4O 2 present in tea leaves that is isomeric with theobromine and is used in medicine especially as a bronchodilator .

What is role for theophylline?

Theophylline was primarily used as a bronchodilator, and it relaxes large and small human airways in vitro, acting as a functional antagonist by increasing intracellular cAMP concentrations. However, it is a relatively weak bronchodilator at therapeutic concentrations, with little bronchodilator effect at plasma concentrations of less than 10 mg/L.