Therefore, the optimum therapeutic maintenance dose should be determined by individual titration. Slo-Bid is a controlled release formulation which produces peak blood levels between 5 and 8 hours post dose. Once the steady state has been achieved, therapeutic blood levels persist for 12 hours in most adult patients. For the symptomatic treatment of reversible bronchoconstriction associated with bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and related bronchospastic disorders. In clinical situations where immediate bronchodilatation is required, such as status asthmaticus, sustained release theophylline is not suitable.
Theophylline has a narrow therapeutic index, the margin of safety above therapeutic doses is small.
In patients showing intolerance to theophylline, the therapy should be reassessed. Dosage schedule in pediatric population has not been established. Use of sustained release theophylline in children under 12 years of age is not recommended. There is a marked variation in serum levels achieved in different patients, given the same dose of theophylline, resulting from individual differences in the rate of theophylline clearance. This may lead to serious adverse effects in some patients.