aminophylline at a glance
Medicine class
Xanthine bronchodilator
Administration
Slow intravenous injection or infusion by healthcare professionals
Key safety feature
Blood levels and toxicity require careful monitoring
Smoking
Starting or stopping smoking can substantially change theophylline levels
What is aminophylline used for?
The selected injection is licensed for:
Reversible airway obstruction, including status asthmaticus and acute bronchospasm.
Adjunctive treatment of cardiovascular conditions such as pulmonary oedema or paroxysmal nocturnal breathlessness caused by left ventricular heart failure.
How does aminophylline work?
Aminophylline releases active theophylline in the body. Theophylline relaxes airway smooth muscle, helping relieve bronchospasm, and also stimulates respiration.
aminophylline preparations and strengths
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 25 mg/mL
How to take aminophylline
This formulation is given in hospital by slow injection into a vein or by intravenous infusion.
It is not taken by mouth or self-administered.
Tell staff about all medicines, recent aminophylline or theophylline use, smoking changes, fever, influenza or recent influenza vaccination.
Blood samples may be taken to check theophylline levels.
Report nausea, tremor, palpitations or unusual restlessness promptly.
aminophylline side effects
Common or expected effects
- Nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, diarrhoea or reflux.
- Headache, dizziness, tremor, anxiety, restlessness or insomnia.
- Palpitations, faster heartbeat, rash or itching.
Get urgent medical advice
- Seizures, confusion, delirium or severe agitation.
- Marked or irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure or collapse.
- Severe allergic reaction with breathing difficulty or facial swelling.
- Gastrointestinal bleeding or repeated severe vomiting.
- Serious electrolyte disturbances, particularly low potassium.
aminophylline in pregnancy
Aminophylline crosses the placenta. It should be used during pregnancy only when a physician considers it essential. Pregnancy can increase the free proportion of theophylline, so specialist assessment and closer level monitoring may be needed.
aminophylline while breastfeeding
Theophylline passes into breast milk and can occasionally cause irritability or other toxicity in an infant. The selected product advises against use while breastfeeding; the treating team should make an individual assessment.
aminophylline interactions
Aminophylline has numerous clinically important interactions. Review prescription, non-prescription and herbal products before administration.
Other xanthines, including theophylline and pentoxifylline
Concurrent use is contraindicated because it increases the risk of serious toxicity.
Fluvoxamine, macrolide or quinolone antibiotics, cimetidine and fluconazole
These can raise theophylline concentrations and increase toxicity.
Carbamazepine, phenytoin, rifampicin and St John's wort
Common questions about aminophylline
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is aminophylline the same as theophylline?
Aminophylline is a soluble complex containing theophylline and ethylenediamine. Its clinical activity mainly comes from theophylline.
Why is aminophylline given in hospital?
This formulation is intravenous, has a narrow therapeutic index and requires controlled administration with monitoring for toxicity.
Why are blood tests needed?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.