How effective is theophyllin for asthma?
Theophylline is a compound that is used to treat asthma in some individuals that can be quite effective, although not all doctors consider this to be the first line for this respiratory disorder. This medicine helps to open the airways by relaxing the tissue of smooth muscle, reducing inflammation and regulating the immune system. All these properties can facilitate breathing to some individuals, especially if this drug is considered prophylactic, designed to prevent asthma attacks. Many individuals do not find that the use of theophylline for asthma is as effective as corticosteroids, another class of drugs used as asthmatic therapy and has side effects that can be problematic for some people that limit its use as common therapies.
Unlike acute asthmatic drugs that are often inhaled, most people use oral formulation of theophylline for asthma. Usually this drug is provided in the form of pills or tablets to be used once or twice a day. DEvkas are usually based on body weights and adults often have a number equal to 5 milligrams (mg) on 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram), after a few days of therapy they range up to 10 mg to 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram). Similar doses can be used for acute therapy, but oral drugs may take up to an hour to manifest, which can limit how effective the oral theophyllin is in the treatment of asthmatic attacks.
Like other drugs, there is a risk of side effects in theophyllin use for asthma. The adverse reactions that are associated with this compound may include increased heart rate, insomnia, anxiety and nausea. In general, these effects are caused by the stimulating properties that this drug may have. Only some individuals are very susceptible to these effects and many people who experience them are tolerant of these aspects of the drug after a few days. For some people, howeverThey can be problematic and may opt for asthma use substances other than theophyllin.
Other factors can reduce theophylline efficacy in asthma cases. Some people can develop a physical dependence on this medicine daily when using daily, and if they stop taking it suddenly, their symptoms may increase. Younger children may be susceptible to difficulty in tolerating some side effects of this drug, which may outweigh its benefits. Restrictions, such as this, led some respiratory physicians to recommend that theophyllin be used mainly as a combined corticosteroid therapy when these steroids do not provide sufficient relief from this condition themselves.