Theophylline interaction with other drugs, really alot!

An Overview of Theophylline Drug Interactions
Theophylline can potentially interact with many other medicines. Some of these medicines that may lead to theophylline interactions include:

•Alcohol
•Allopurinol (Aloprim®, Zyloprim®)
•Certain antibiotics, including:


◦Ciprofloxacin (Cipro®)
◦Clarithromycin (Biaxin®, Biaxin XL®)
◦Erythromycin (Ery-Tab®)


•Certain benzodiazepines, including:


◦Diazepam (Valium®)
◦Flurazepam (Dalmane®)
◦Lorazepam (Ativan®)
◦Midazolam (Versed®)


•Certain seizure medications, including:


◦Carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Epitol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®, Tegretol XR®)
◦Phenobarbital (Luminal®)
◦Phenytoin (Dilantin®, Phenytek®)


•Cimetidine (Tagamet®)
•Disulfiram (Antabuse®)
•Estrogen-containing medications, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
•Fluvoxamine (Luvox®)
•Interferon alpha-2a (Roferon A®) or peginterferon alpha-2a (Pegasys®)
•Lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®)
•Methotrexate (Rheumatrex®)
•Mexiletine (Mexitil®)
•Moricizine (Ethmozine®)
•Pentoxifylline (Trental®)
•Propafenone (Rhythmol®)
•Propranolol (Inderal®, Inderal LA®, InnoPran XL®)
•Rifampin (Rifadin®)
•St. John's wort
•Tacrine (Cognex®)
•Ticlopidine (Ticlid®)
•Tobacco products
•Verapamil (Calan®, Verelan®).
Theophylline Interactions Explained
The following sections explain in detail the potentially negative interactions that can occur when theophylline is combined with any of the drugs listed above.

Alcohol
Drinking alcohol can increase the level of theophylline in your blood, which can cause dangerous side effects. It is best to avoid alcohol while taking theophylline.

Allopurinol (Aloprim, Zyloprim)
Taking theophylline with allopurinol can increase the level of theophylline in your blood, which can cause dangerous side effects. If you are taking these drugs together, your healthcare provider should monitor the level of theophylline in your blood and adjust your theophylline dosage as necessary.

Certain Antibiotics
Taking theophylline with certain antibiotics can increase the level of theophylline in your blood, which can cause dangerous side effects. If you are taking these drugs together, your healthcare provider should monitor the level of theophylline in your blood and adjust your theophylline dosage as necessary.

Certain Benzodiazepines
You may require higher doses of certain benzodiazepines while taking theophylline. If you stop taking theophylline, your previous dose of a benzodiazepine may be too high, causing excessive drowsiness or breathing problems.

Certain Seizure Medications
Taking theophylline with certain seizure medications can decrease the level of theophylline in your blood, perhaps making it less effective. In some cases, theophylline can affect the level of seizure medication in your blood. If you are taking these drugs together, your healthcare provider may need to adjust your dosages of theophylline or seizure medication.

Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Taking theophylline with cimetidine can greatly increase the level of theophylline in your blood, which can cause dangerous side effects. If you are taking these drugs together, your healthcare provider should monitor the level of theophylline in your blood and adjust your theophylline dosage as necessary. Do not take cimetidine (even over-the-counter cimetidine) with theophylline without first talking with your healthcare provider.

Disulfiram (Antabuse)
Taking theophylline with disulfiram can increase the level of theophylline in your blood, which can cause dangerous side effects. If you are taking these drugs together, your healthcare provider should monitor the level of theophylline in your blood and adjust your theophylline dosage as necessary.

Estrogen
Taking theophylline with estrogen-containing products can increase the level of theophylline in your blood, which can cause dangerous side effects. If you are taking these drugs together, your healthcare provider should monitor the level of theophylline in your blood and adjust your theophylline dosage as necessary.

Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
Taking theophylline with fluvoxamine can greatly increase the level of theophylline in your blood, which can cause dangerous side effects. If you are taking these drugs together, your healthcare provider should monitor the level of theophylline in your blood and adjust your theophylline dosage as necessary. Do not take fluvoxamine with theophylline without first talking with your healthcare provider.

Interferon Alpha-2a (Roferon A) or Peginterferon Alpha-2a (Pegasys)
Taking theophylline with certain interferon medications can greatly increase the level of theophylline in your blood, which can cause dangerous side effects. If you are taking these drugs together, your healthcare provider should monitor the level of theophylline in your blood and adjust your theophylline dosage as necessary. Do not take an interferon medication with theophylline without first talking with your healthcare provider.
Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
Theophylline can decrease the level of lithium in your blood, perhaps decreasing its effectiveness. If you are taking these drugs together, your healthcare provider may need to monitor the level of lithium in your blood and adjust your lithium dosage as necessary.

Methotrexate (Rheumatrex)
Taking theophylline with methotrexate can increase the level of theophylline in your blood, which can cause dangerous side effects. If you are taking these drugs together, your healthcare provider should monitor the level of theophylline in your blood and adjust your theophylline dosage as necessary.

Mexiletine (Mexitil)
Taking theophylline with mexiletine can greatly increase the level of theophylline in your blood, which can cause dangerous side effects. If you are taking these drugs together, your healthcare provider should monitor the level of theophylline in your blood and adjust your theophylline dosage as necessary. Do not take mexiletine with theophylline without first talking with your healthcare provider.

Moricizine (Ethmozine)
Taking theophylline with moricizine can decrease the level of theophylline in your blood, perhaps making it less effective. If you are taking these drugs together, your healthcare provider may need to adjust your theophylline dosage.

Pentoxifylline (Trental)
Taking theophylline with pentoxifylline can increase the level of theophylline in your blood, which can cause dangerous side effects. If you are taking these drugs together, your healthcare provider should monitor the level of theophylline in your blood and adjust your theophylline dosage as necessary.

Propafenone (Rhythmol)
Taking theophylline with propafenone can increase the level of theophylline in your blood, which can cause dangerous side effects. If you are taking these drugs together, your healthcare provider should monitor the level of theophylline in your blood and adjust your theophylline dosage as necessary.
Propranolol (Inderal, Inderal LA, InnoPran XL)
Taking theophylline with propranolol can greatly increase the level of theophylline in your blood, which can cause dangerous side effects. If you are taking these drugs together, your healthcare provider should monitor the level of theophylline in your blood and adjust your theophylline dosage as necessary. Do not take propranolol with theophylline without first talking with your healthcare provider.

Rifampin (Rifadin)
Taking theophylline with rifampin can decrease the level of theophylline in your blood, perhaps making it less effective. If you are taking these drugs together, your healthcare provider may need to adjust your theophylline dosage.

St. John's Wort
Taking theophylline with St. John's wort can decrease the level of theophylline in your blood, perhaps making it less effective. If you are taking these drugs together, your healthcare provider may need to adjust your theophylline dosage. During treatment with theophylline, do not start or stop taking St. John's wort without first talking with your healthcare provider.

Tacrine (Cognex)
Taking theophylline with tacrine can greatly increase the level of theophylline in your blood, which can cause dangerous side effects. If you are taking these drugs together, your healthcare provider should monitor the level of theophylline in your blood and adjust your theophylline dosage as necessary. Do not take tacrine with theophylline without first talking with your healthcare provider.

Ticlopidine (Ticlid)
Taking theophylline with ticlopidine can increase the level of theophylline in your blood, which can cause dangerous side effects. If you are taking these drugs together, your healthcare provider should monitor the level of theophylline in your blood and adjust your theophylline dosage as necessary.
Tobacco
Tobacco can decrease the level of theophylline in your blood. If you stop using tobacco (even if you use nicotine replacement products), you may develop dangerously high levels of theophylline in your blood. Contact your healthcare provider if you plan to start or stop using tobacco products.

Verapamil (Calan, Verelan)
Taking theophylline with verapamil can increase the level of theophylline in your blood, which can cause dangerous side effects. If you are taking these drugs together, your healthcare provider should monitor the level of theophylline in your blood and adjust your theophylline dosage as necessary.

Final Thoughts on Theophylline Drug Interactions
Not every drug interaction with theophylline was discussed in this article. Therefore, you should talk with your pharmacist or healthcare provider about theophylline drug interactions that may apply to you. Because so many medications interact dangerously with theophylline, do not start or stop taking any medication (including over-the-counter medications or herbals) without first talking with your healthcare provider.