AMINOPHYLLINE

Xanthine used to treat and prevent difficult breathing.

Dosage Forms

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Tablet

100 mg

injection

25 mg/ml

Uses

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  • Asthma
  • Reversible airways obstruction (e.g. in anaphylaxis)
  • Chronic bronchitis

Dose and Duration

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Acute severe asthma
Adult: 250 mg by slow IV injection (over 20 minutes)
Child: 5 mg/kg by slow IV injection (over 20 minutes)
Asthma regular maintenance therapy
Adult: Initially, 200 mg every 12 hours; after 1 week, increase to 400–500 mg every 12 hours
Child >3 years: Initially, 6 mg/kg every 12 hours; after 1 week, increase to 12 mg/kg every 12 hours Some children with chronic asthma may require 13–20 mg/kg every 12 hours
Anaphylaxis
6 mg/kg by slow IV injection (over at least 20 minutes)

Side Effects

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  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Headache, sleep disturbances
  • Stomach upset
  • Itchy skin rash

Interactions

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  • Ciprofloxacin (increased risk of side effects)
  • Erythromycin, azithromycin (increased risk of side effects)
  • Fluconazole (increased risk of side effects)

Pregnancy

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  • Do not use in 3rd trimester

Breastfeeding

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  • Do not use

⚠️ Caution

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  • Do not use IV aminophylline in patients already taking oral aminophylline
  • Rapid IV injection can cause irregular heartbeat and convulsions
  • Second line treatment to salbutamol.
  • Use ideal body weight (not actual weight) to calculate dose in obese patients