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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - Management
When should I treat someone with COPD with a theophylline (methylxanthine)?
- If a person with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is still symptomatic after a trial of short-acting and long-acting bronchodilators (with or without inhaled corticosteroids), or cannot use inhaler devices successfully:
- Consider prescribing oral theophylline.
- Theophylline has a narrow therapeutic window, and plasma levels should be monitored closely.
- Particular caution needs to be taken when prescribing theophylline to elderly people because of differences in pharmacokinetics, increased likelihood of comorbidities, and the use of other medications.
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