What is the most important information I should know about aminophylline?
Do not crush or chew any extended-release formulation of aminophylline. Swallow
the medication whole. It is specially formulated to release slowly in your body. If you do not
know whether your medication is an extended-release formulation, ask your pharmacist.
Call your doctor right away if you experience nausea, vomiting, insomnia, restlessness,
seizures, increased heart rate, or a headache. These could be signs of too much aminophylline in
your blood.
Do not start or stop smoking without your doctor's knowledge. Smoking may affect your
dosage.
Do not take more of this medication than is prescribed without consulting your doctor.
Seek medical attention if you are having increasing difficulty breathing.
What is aminophylline?
Aminophylline is a bronchodilator. Aminophylline works in several ways: it relaxes
muscles in your lungs and chest to allow more air in, decreases the sensitivity of your lungs to
allergens and other substances that cause inflammation, and increases the contractions of your
diaphragm to draw more air into the lungs.
Aminophylline is used to treat the symptoms of asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema.
Aminophylline may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication
guide.
Who should not take aminophylline?
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have
You may not be able to take aminophylline, or you may require a
lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Aminophylline is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known
whether aminophylline will harm an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first
talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
Aminophylline passes into breast milk and could affect a nursing baby. Do not take
aminophylline without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
If you are over 60 years of age, you may be more likely to experience side effects
from aminophylline. You may require a lower dose of this medication.
How should I take aminophylline?
Take aminophylline exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these
directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
Take each dose with a full glass of water.
You can take aminophylline with food to lessen stomach upset.
Take your doses at the same time every day to keep a constant level of aminophylline in
your blood.
Do not crush or chew any extended-release formulation of aminophylline. Swallow
the medication whole. It is specially formulated to release slowly in your body. If you do not
know whether your medication is an extended-release formulation, ask your pharmacist.
Shake the liquid forms of this medication well before use. To ensure that you get a
correct dose, measure the liquid with a dose-measuring cup or spoon, not a regular tablespoon. If
a spoon or cup is not provided with the medication and you do not have one, ask your pharmacist
where you can get one.
Insert the suppositories rectally as directed.
Do not switch to another brand or a generic form of aminophylline without the approval
of your doctor.
Store aminophylline at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
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