Symptomatic relief or prevention of bronchial asthma and reversible bronchospasm associated with chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Theophyline use in children is generally NOT recommended any longer as there are other, safer agents available. Dosage must be individualized.
Acute symptoms require an initial loading dose to achieve rapid theophyllinization.
If a serum theophylline concentration can be obtained rapidly, delay the loading dose until after it is available. Frequency of administration may vary depending upon patient and dosage form prescribed. Infants and young children should be dosed every 6 hours due to increased metabolism in this age group. In the determination of theophylline dosage for chronic therapy, the dosage should be titrated up to the maximum dose recommended without measurement of serum concentration or to a lower but maximum tolerated dose. Slow clinical titration is generally preferred.