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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - Management
Basis for recommendation
These recommendations are based on the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) clinical guideline Management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adults in primary and secondary care (partial update) [National Clinical Guideline Centre, 2010; NICE, 2010].
- There is evidence that theophylline improves lung function, but it does not result in a statistically significant difference in symptoms (wheeze, dyspnoea, or walking distance), use of rescue medication, or exacerbation frequency compared with placebo.
- The higher rate of adverse effects with theophylline needs to be balanced against any benefits.
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