This is a xanthine bronchodilator. Aminophylline is a stable mixture of theophylline and ethylenediamine. The latter confers greater solubility in water.

Indication: reversible airways obstruction, status asthmaticus, left ventricular failure, severe acute asthma.

Cautions: reduce dose in liver disease; epilepsy, breast- feeding, pregnancy, cardiac disease, elderly patients, fever, hypertension, hyperthyroidism; peptic ulcer and hypokalemia.

Side Effects: tachycardia, palpitations, nausea, gastro- intestinal disturbances, insomnia, arrhythmias, and convulsions especially/if given rapidly by intravenous injection; use of suppositories for more than a few days may cause proctitis, intramuscular injection is painful (therefore this route is not used). Neonatal irritability and apnoea have been reported. Allergy to ethylene diamine may develop.

Dose: by mouth, 100-300mg 3-4 times daily, preferably after food.

For doses of sustained-release preparation, 1 tablet twice daily initially, increased after 1 week to 2 tablets twice daily.

Deteriorating acute asthma not previously treated with theophylline, by slow IV Injection over 20 minutes, 250- 500mg (5mg/kg), then as for acute severe asthma. Child, 5mg/kg then as for acute severe asthma.

Acute severe asthma, by IV infusion, 500 mcg/kg/hr, adjusted according to plasma-theophylline concentration. Child 6 months - 9 years, 1mg/kg/hour.

10-16years, 800 mcg/kg/hour adjusted according to plasma-theophylline concentration.