Long-term therapy with sustained-release theophylline.
Twenty patients with partially reversible bronchial obstruction due to chronic obstructive lung disease participated in a study comparing serum levels, clinical and side-effects of a sustained-release formulation of theophylline with placebo. Prior to the study, theophylline dosages were individually adjusted to give serum levels of 55 to 75 mumol/l 4 hours after tablet intake. Theophylline or placebo was then administered every 12 hours with crossover after 6 weeks. During the study, patients were examined in the morning every second week and lung function tests carried out before and after salbutamol inhalation. Doses required to achieve the desired serum concentration showed great inter-individual variations, but the obtained levels were stable during the whole study. Lung function tests were significantly better in the theophylline period. After inhalation of salbutamol, values were also better in the theophylline period but the differences were less marked and of no statistical significance. Subjective improvement from theophylline was not observed. Side-effects reported were mild and caused no withdrawals.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000420:Albuterol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013806:Theophylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D013806:Theophylline; D000420:Albuterol