Aminophylline

Brand Names

Phyllocontin, Truphylline

What is Aminophylline

Aminophylline is a bronchodilator that works by relaxing muscles in your lungs and chest to allow more air in and by decreasing the sensitivity of your lungs to allergens and other substances that cause inflammation, and increases the contractions of your diaphragm to draw more air into the lungs. Aminophylline is used to treat the symptoms of asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema.

Side effects of Aminophylline

Aminophylline common side effects may include:

• upset stomach
• stomach pain
• diarrhea
• headache
• restlessness
• insomnia
• irritability

If you have noticed any of these serious side effects, contact your doctor as soon as possible:

• vomiting
• increased or rapid heart rate
• irregular heartbeat
• seizures
• skin rash

Indication

Aminophylline is intended to prevent and treat wheezing, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing caused by asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and other lung diseases. It relaxes and opens air passages in the lungs, making it easier to breathe.

Precautions

Stop taking aminophylline if you:

• are allergic to aminophylline or any other drugs.
• are taking any other prescription medications, especially allopurinol (Zyloprim), azithromycin (Zithromax) carbamazepine (Tegretol), cimetidine (Tagamet), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), clarithromycin (Biaxin), diuretics ('water pills'), erythromycin, lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid), oral contraceptives, phenytoin (Dilantin), prednisone (Deltasone), propranolol (Inderal), rifampin (Rifadin), tetracycline (Sumycin), and other medications for infections or heart disease.
• are taking any other non-prescription medications and vitamins, especially nonprescription medications containing ephedrine, epinephrine, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, or pseudoephedrine. Many nonprescription products contain these drugs (e.g., diet pills and medications for colds and asthma), so check labels carefully.
• have or have ever had seizures, heart disease, an overactive or underactive thyroid gland, high blood pressure, or liver disease or if you have a history of alcohol abuse.
• are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking aminophylline, call your doctor.
• use tobacco products. Cigarette smoking may affect the effectiveness of aminophylline.

Dosage forms

Loading Dose: Recommended rate 25 mg/minute

• Adults and children who have not received theophylline containing products within previous 24 hours: 6 mg/kg aminophylline (4.7 mg/kg theophylline)
• Adults and children who have received theophylline containing products within 24 hours: reduce the loading dose by 50% (3mg/kg aminophylline)

Maintenance dose:

Patient population	Aminophylline infusion (mg/kg/hr)
Children 9 – 12	0.8
Adolescents 12 - 16: smokers non-smokers	0.8 0.6
Adults: smokers non-smokers ardiac decompensation, cor pulmonale and/or liver dysfunction	0.8 0.5 0.25