Aminophylline

Has anyone had any negative side effects from these tablets I’m due to start taking them tomorrow a little worried on how they are going to make me feel. Thank you

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Hi

I was on theophylline for about 18months on/off (basically same drug). If your levels are therapeutic (10ish- 20)you shouldn’t really get any side effects however in the short term (whilst body adapts) you can get mild headaches and tremors and tachy/palps (similar time when you start a new inhaler)

The thing to look for is signs of toxicity (when your levels are too high... 20+)... take the prev side effects escalated and add (in my experience); nausea/vomiting, jitters, dizziness/spacing out, generally feeling very rubbish.

For most the issue is being at untherapeutic levels (under 8/9ish), cause there’s no real asthma improvement.

Generally people find once they’ve adapted and are therapeutic (takes 5ish days for levels to stabilise initially... hence the BT that should occur around then to see if a change is needed) then they really benefit and don’t have to worry about anything side effects. If you show signs of toxicity you really need to see GP that day and get a BT to check levels.

Personally I have a weird absorbable thing with it, so one day would be untherapuetic and a couple days later toxic then a couple days later untherapeutic again, without changing dose, plus started to get signs of toxicity at untherapeutic levels so it was one that was stopped and started and finally completely stopped for me. But as I said I know a lot of people on theo/amino tablets who say it’s a ‘main’ drug to help them control their asthma and get no side effects. For me when therapeutic it’s did really help.

Just be aware of the toxicity side effects so you know when to see a doc, but I hope you’re part of the majority!! Good luck!

[angievere]

I take Theophylline intermittently and it is very helpful. Side effects can include slight nausea, racing heart and headaches but once you take it regularly these tend to stop. I wouldn’t be without it.

My adult son takes it and interestingly he has never had any side effects.

Good Luck and I hope things improve for you.