an alkaloid found with caffeine in tea leaves. A smooth muscle relaxant, diuretic, cardiac, stimulant and vasodilator.

This medicine eases breathing difficulties associated with emphysema, bronchitis, and bronchial asthma. The medicine works by relaxing the muscles of the respiratory tract, which allows an easier flow of air into the lungs. Examples of brand names include Theo-Dur, Theophyl, and Bronkodyl.

A derivative of caffeine, this long-term bronchodilator has lost much of its popularity with the introduction of corticosteroids. Theophylline's potential side effects such as decreased appetite, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, headache, nervousness, irritability, insomnia and palpitations, along with the very thin margin between theraputic dose and toxicity make it a last-resort choice for use in children. It is best taken on an empty stomach in its complete form (capsule or tablet) and not opened, chewed, or crushed and mixed with food. Doing so may reduce its long-acting effectiveness and increase the risk of side effects. Since small children usually can't swallow pills, there is a form available that can be sprinkled on food and also a liquid suspension formula, but both tend to increase the incidence of side effects. Frequent arterial blood testing is required to ensure optimum dosing. Trade names for theophylline are included here.

a bronchodilator (trade names Elixophyllin and Slo-Bid and Theobid) used to treat asthma and bronchitis and emphysema

A long-term control medicine that opens the airways to relieve and prevent bronchospasm

A medicine that is sometimes used to treat apnea.

A body breakdown product of caffeine, only produced in very small amounts in humans

A drug used as a relaxant of bronchial smooth muscle. Toxic levels can cause increased heartbeats, nausea, and seizures. A blood test is available to monitor levels of the drug.

A medicine used to treat bronchial asthma ( bronchodilator effect).

bronchodilator drug, taken orally, that widens the airways in the lungs; used to prevent apnea and to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Theophylline is a bronchodilator drug, given by mouth, that widens the airways to the lung. It also is used to prevent attacks of apnea (cessation of breathing) in premature infants and to treat heart failure because it stimulates heart rate and increases urine excretion.

a methylxanthine bronchodilator.

a type of medicine to open the airways.

A drug used to improve breathing in people who are short of breath. It belongs to the family of drugs called bronchodilators or respiratory smooth muscle relaxants.

A chemical cousin of caffeine that is found in tea.

Theophylline, also known as Dimethylxanthine, is a methylxanthine drug used in therapy for respiratory diseases such as COPD or asthma under a variety of brand names. As a member of the xanthine family, it bears structural and pharmacological similarity to caffeine. It is naturally found in tea, although in trace quantities (~1mg/l)http://archive.food.gov.uk/maff/archive/food/infsheet/1997/no103/table2a.htm MAFF Food Surveillance Information Sheet, significantly less than therapeutic doseshttp://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/theosr_ids.htm RXlist dosage and administration information for theophylline.