MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL

Department of Pharmacy

Department of Nursing

Critical Care

Generic Name: Theophylline
Trade Name:  
Action: Bronchodilator
Indications: Bronchospasm

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Asthma

Antidote for Dipyridamole, Adenosine Toxicity
Administration Guidelines:
Usual Dosage Range and Route: LOADING DOSE: 200 to 400 mg IV Bolus. RATE SHOULD NOT EXCEED 20 mg/min.

*LOADING DOSE IS USUALLY GIVEN PRIOR TO STARTING MAINTENANCE*

MAINTENANCE DOSE: 8 to 64 mg / hour BASED ON PATIENT RESPONSE.

Adenosine toxicity: (acute broncospasm) administered by MD dose=50mg of aminophylline.
Repeat in 5 minutes, if necessary then give 25mg after 5 minutes, may be repeated after 5 minutes.
Standard Concentrations:

- 400mg / 500ml D5W
Special Considerations:

- Theophylline 800 mg = aminophylline 1000 mg

- Dose must be expressed in mgs / hour of either aminophylline or theophylline. they are not interchangeable

- Theophylline therapeutics levels 5-15mcg/ml
Precautions and Side Effects: - CNS Stimulation

- Cardiac Arrhythmias

- Hypertension

- Nausea & Vomiting

 

revised 07/07