Aminophylline

Description

Aminophylline is a very effective bronchodilator medicine. It relaxes the smooth muscles of the airways leading to the lung. This medicine is used to prevent and treat wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness associated with lung diseases like asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema etc.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Aminophylline

  • Increased/Irregular heart rate
  • Convulsions (seizures)
  • Allergic Skin Reaction
  • Stomach discomfort and pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • Sleeplessness
  • Swelling of ankles or feet
  • Yellowing of skin and eyes
  • Increased urination frequency
  • Twitching and unusual movement of muscles
  • Elevated liver enzymes

Uses of Aminophylline

What is it prescribed for?

  • Asthma (Acute)
  • Other lung diseases causing bronchospasms
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Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action
    The amount of time taken for this medicine to show its effect is subject to vary based on the form of medicine consumed.
  • Duration of effect
    The time duration for which this medicine remains effective in the body is subject to variations based on the form of medicine consumed.
  • Safe with alcohol?
    Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
  • Is it habit forming?
    No habit forming tendencies were reported.
  • Usage in pregnancy?
    This medicine is not recommended for use by women who are pregnant unless absolutely necessary and the benefits outweigh the risks associated. Consult your doctor before using this medicine.
  • Usage while breast-feeding?
    This medicine is not recommended for use by women who are breastfeeding unless necessary. Consult your doctor and discuss the risks associated with use before taking this medicine.

Allergy

This medicine is not recommended for use if you have a known history of allergy to aminophylline or any other xanthine derivatives. It should not be used if you are allergic to ethylenediamine, which is a secondary constituent in the medicine.
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

This medicine is not recommended for use by women who are pregnant unless absolutely necessary and the benefits outweigh the risks associated. Consult your doctor before using this medicine.

Breast-feeding

This medicine is not recommended for use by women who are breastfeeding unless necessary. Consult your doctor and discuss the risks associated with use before taking this medicine.
General warnings

Other diseases

Report the instance of any disease of the heart and blood vessels, brain, thyroid glands etc to the doctor before receiving this medicine. This medicine should be used with caution and any disease worsening symptom should be reported to the doctor immediately.

Other medicines

This medicine is known to interact with a large number of other medicines. Report the use of all medicines including herbs and supplement to the doctor.

Smoking

This medicine tends to be less effective if you smoke or consume tobacco products. Avoid or limit the uptake of tobacco products while taking this medicine.

Caffeine

Consumption of caffeine while taking this medicine may cause certain side effects to appear. Avoid or limit the uptake of caffeine or caffeine products while taking this medicine.

Fever and infections

This medicine should be used with caution if you have a high fever (febrile) with a headache, chills, and joint pain. Report any such instance to the doctor while taking this medicine.

Toxic accumulation of the medicine

Use of high doses of this medicine has been associated with toxicity due to an accumulation of the medicine in the body after long term use. It is advised to measure the serum levels and withhold the dose of this medicine if toxicity symptoms are developed.

Use in the elderly

This medicine should be used with caution in the elderly as the risk of adverse effects are significantly higher.

Acute asthma attack

It is advised to take an alternate and fast-acting medicine to treat an attack of asthma that has already set in.

Missed Dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next scheduled dose then the missed dose can be skipped.

Overdose

Contact your doctor immediately if an overdose with aminophylline is suspected. The overdose may occur due to excessive uptake at one time or exposure to high doses over a long period of time. Symptoms of overdose may include fever, nausea and occasional vomiting, lack of sleep, agitation etc. An overdose of this medicine can cause severe seizures and even death.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol

Description

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.

Instructions

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine

Carbamazepine

Fluvoxamine

Lithium

Phenytoin

Propranolol

Ethinyl Estradiol

Azithromycin

Cimetidine

Ciprofloxacin

Riociguat

Disease interactions

Peptic ulcer

This medicine should be administered with caution in patients with active peptic ulcer disease. As the risk of worsening of symptoms is very high, your doctor will determine the best course of treatment after assessing the condition.

Kidney Disease

This medicine should be used with caution in patients suffering from an impairment of kidney functions. Appropriate dose adjustments and intensive monitoring may be required if the impairment is moderate to severe.

Seizure disorders

This medicine should be used with caution in patients suffering from seizure disorders. Appropriate medicine to control seizure should be given before starting the treatment with this medicine.

Heart rhythm disorders

This medicine should be used with caution in a patient suffering from a heart rhythm disorder. Suitable clinical investigations should be performed to determine the safe and effective use of this medicine.

Porphyria

This medicine should be used with caution in patients suffering from this rare genetic disorder of the blood and the skin.
Food interactions
Avoid or limit the uptake of caffeine while taking this medicine. Report any incidence of an adverse effect to the doctor on priority.
Avoid consumption of tobacco and marijuana while taking this medicine. The risk of adverse effects is high even with secondhand smoking.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Aminophylline as instructed by the doctor. Do not take more or less of this medicine or take it for longer or shorter duration than recommended by the doctor. This medicine should be taken 1-2 hours before meals. It is advised to take this medicine for the entire prescribed duration of time.
Miscelleneous

To be taken on an empty stomach

To be taken as instructed by doctor

May cause sleepiness

How it works
This medicine works by relaxing the smooth vessels of the airways in the lungs. It also reduces the sensitivity of lungs to allergens that cause irritation and constriction of muscles in the chest and the lungs. It also causes the contraction if diaphragm (the breathing muscle present below the lungs).
Legal Status

Approved

Approved

Approved

Approved

Classification

Category

Methylxanthines

Schedule

Schedule H

Aminophylline - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2017 [cited 19 May 2017]. Available from:

https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB01223

Aminophylline | C16H24N10O4 - PubChem [Internet]. Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 19 May 2017]. Available from:

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/9433#section=Top

Aminophylline: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2017 [cited 19 May 2017]. Available from:

https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601015.html

DailyMed - Aminophylline injection, solution [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 19 May 2017]. Available from:

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=754e8580-c710-4a60-8c4e-184be3cf1f41

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Information on this page was last updated on 16 Nov 2017

Disclaimer

We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.