Some medications contain the drug anhydrous theophylline. This drug has been used for more than 50 years throughout the world to both treat asthma attacks and to help prevent asthma. Anhydrous theophylline, like almost all medications used to manage asthma, may have side effects - when used in some individuals. When used properly, most patients benefit from its use without significant side effects. Physicians who prescribe medications containing theophylline must always weigh the potential risk of the use of this type of medication with the potential benefit for control of the asthmatic condition - just as these physicians must do when they treat any medical condition with a medication.
Anhydrous theophylline is one of the best studied of any type of drug used to manage asthma.
The absorption and metabolic characteristics of this drug under many conditions have been researched and published in the medical literature. Reliable laboratory tests are readily available to quantitate the blood level of anhydrous theophylline in individuals using medications containing this drug. The therapeutic effectiveness of anhydrous theophylline in treating asthma or helping to prevent asthma has been shown to be related to the blood level. The relative risk for a serious side effect from the anhydrous theophylline also has been shown to be related to drug blood levels. Blood drug levels should be monitored for changing indications.