IV Aminophylline

I get this often. When I'm not too bad, 24 hours of iv aminophylline get my levels up to properly therapeutic and I can be taken off and go home, other times within 6-8 hours of stopping it I get worse so end up back on it. This is because iv aminophylline half life is shorter than oral (6-8 hours ish). When lungs are very angry and inflamed the iv Amino keeps lungs open (bronchodilator) until antiinflamatories (steroids) have a chance to reduce background inflammation. I think the theory behind elective iv amino is that if it works for you it bronchodilates so you aren't struggling too much so inflammation has a chance to go down, rather than vicious circle of inflammation making breathing worse, which cause you to be tachypnoeic and struggle so inflammation continues/increases despite steroids.

Elective iv amino has been discussed with me however I usually end up admitted even more frequently than the 6 weeks planned admissions :s

B x