title: The assessment and treatment of theophylline poisoning.
abstract: Theophylline poisoning long has been recognized as difficult to treat and still has an over-all mortality rate of about 10%. In recent years, the increasing use of sustained-release preparations has changed the pattern of toxicity. The management of theophylline toxicity is compounded by clinical differences between chronic (overmedication) intoxication and acute single ingestions of a large amount of the drug, inter- and intraindividual variability in theophylline metabolism and dose-dependent kinetics in poisoned patients. Management decisions should be based on both clinical assessment and laboratory information (particularly theophylline concentrations).
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Royal Newcastle Hospital, NSW.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Whyte
mesh_terms: D002606:Charcoal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006464:Hemoperfusion; D006801:Humans; D013806:Theophylline / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D002606:Charcoal; D013806:Theophylline