Aminophylline

Aminophylline is used for:

Treating active symptoms and blockage of airway due to asthma or other lung diseases such as emphysema or bronchitis. It is used in combination with other medicines.

Aminophylline is a xanthine derivative. It works by relaxing the smooth muscle surrounding the bronchial tubes (air passages) of the lungs, allowing the tubes to widen, making breathing easier. Aminophylline improves contraction of the diaphragm (the major breathing muscle).

Do NOT use Aminophylline if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Aminophylline (including ethylenediamine), similar medicines (eg, theophylline), or xanthines (eg, caffeine, chocolate)
• you are using large amounts of other products that contain xanthine (such as chocolate or caffeinated drinks)
• you are taking dipyridamole intravenously (IV) or halothane

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Aminophylline :

Some medical conditions may interact with Aminophylline . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have heart problems (eg, congestive heart failure, cor pulmonale), an irregular heartbeat, ulcers or a history of ulcers, fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), liver problems, fever, viral infection, severe infection (eg, blood infection), thyroid problems, cystic fibrosis, increased acid levels in the body, brain or nerve problems, or seizures (eg, epilepsy)
• if you are in shock
• if you smoke, are stopping or starting smoking, or are exposed to the smoke from cigarettes or marijuana
• if you are in the last 3 months of pregnancy

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Aminophylline . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Aminoglutethimide, barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), beta-blockers (eg, propranolol), carbamazepine, hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), isoproterenol, moricizine, propafenone, rifampin, or sulfinpyrazone because the effectiveness of Aminophylline may be decreased
• Allopurinol, cimetidine, disulfiram, enoxacin, estrogen, fluvoxamine, interferon alpha, macrolide antibiotics (eg, clarithromycin, erythromycin), methotrexate, mexiletine, oral contraceptives (birth control pills), pentoxifylline, quinolone antibiotics (eg, ciprofloxacin), tacrine, thiabendazole, ticlopidine, troleandomycin, verapamil, viloxazine, or zileuton because the risk of side effects of Aminophylline may be increased
• Ephedrine because side effects such as nausea, nervousness, and trouble sleeping may be increased
• Halothane because the risk of side effects such as irregular heartbeat may be increased
• Keta mine because the risk of seizures may be increased
• Adenosine, benzodiazepines (eg, diazepam, lorazepam), dipyridamole IV, lithium, midazolam, or nondepolarizing muscle relaxants (eg, pancuronium) because effectiveness may be decreased by Aminophylline

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Aminophylline may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.