Serum theophylline concentrations and pulmonary function tests after administration of two sustained-release formulations containing theophylline in patients affected by chronic obstructive lung disease.
We compared serum theophylline concentrations in patients treated with one of two commercially available theophylline preparations: a sustained-release aminophylline and a sustained-release theophylline. Two comparable groups of 15 out-patients with stable, chronic obstructive lung diseases were studied: one group was given sustained-release aminophylline while the other took sustained-release theophylline. Both drugs were administered orally for 7 days at a daily dose, equivalent to 12 mg/kg in terms of anhydrous theophylline. Serum theophylline concentrations were always significantly lower after treatment with sustained-release aminophylline than after treatment with sustained-release theophylline, which latter frequently caused undesirable side-effects. Moreover, patients receiving sustained-release aminophylline always showed serum theophylline concentrations lower than 10 mcg/ml. Pulmonary function tests were unaffected by the administration of either drug. We conclude that sustained-release theophylline is more effective than sustained-release aminophylline in terms of induced serum theophylline concentrations. However neither drug was suitable for the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive lung disease without other concomitant therapy.
Fontana
G
G
Department of Clinical Physiopathology, University of Florence, Italy.
Cresci
F
F
Lo Sapio
P
P
Panuccio
P
P
D000368:Aged; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013147:Spirometry; D013806:Theophylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D013806:Theophylline