Theophylline

What is it - Theophylline is a medicine related to caffine. It works in two ways in the lungs of patients with COPD or asthma. It causes bronchodilation and suppresses the airways response to stimuli. Although it is not know exactly how it does these things it is thought that it inhibits two isozymes of phosphodiesterase. Phosphodiesterase is an enzyme that degrades cAMP and therefore results in smooth muscle relaxation.

theophylline is taken orally or by IV and there is a fair amount of adverse reactions with this medication, including restlessness, dizziness headache, insomnia, irritability, muscle twitching, tachycardia , hypotension, nausea and vomiting and diarrhea. Proper dosage is very important with this drug. Theophylline interacts with a lot of different things. Smoking for example will cause theophylline to metabolize faster.