Dosage of Theophylline in Bronchial Asthma

Abstract

THEOPHYLLINE (1,3-dimethylxanthine) is a naturally occurring alkaloid closely related to caffeine (Fig. 1). The pharmacologic actions of theophylline include stimulation of respiration, augmentation of cardiac inotropy and chronotropy, relaxation of smooth muscle, including that in the bronchi and blood vessels other than cerebral vessels, and diuresis.1 It has been used in a number of diseases, but its main use has been in the treatment of reversible airway obstruction and as an adjunct to the therapy of acute left ventricular failure.The actions of theophylline are probably mediated through inhibition of phosphodiesterase and an increase in intracellular cyclic AMP, which mediates . . .