Asthma medications - theophylline derivatives

Theophylline derivatives include:

• Aminophylline (Truphylline, Phyllocontin)
• Theophylline (Aerolate III, Aerolate JR, Aerolate SR, Elixophyllin, Quibron-T, Quibron-T/SR, Respbid, Slo-bid, Slo-Phyllin, T-Phyl, Theo- Time, TheoCap, Theo-24, Theo-Dur, Theochron, Theolair, Truxophyllin, Uni-Dur, and Uniphyl)
• Dyphylline (Dilor, Dilor-400, Dylix, Lufyllin, Lufyllin-400)

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Depletions

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

Taking theophylline and aminophylline may deplete vitamin B6.

Vitamin B6 is important for processing amino acids into important molecules in the body.

Low levels of vitamin B6 may cause any of the following symptoms:

• Depression
• Nervousness
• Seizures
• Vomiting
• Failure to grow

Severe deficiency of vitamin B6 may cause numbness or tingling sensations in feet and toes.

Editorial Note

The information presented here covers some of the nutrients that may be affected when you take certain medicines. If you have any of these signs and symptoms, it does not always mean you have low levels of these nutrients.

Factors that affect the level of nutrients are:

• Your medical history
• Diet
• Lifestyle
• How long you have been taking the medicine

Please talk to your health care provider. They can best address your health care needs and see if you are at risk for low levels of any nutrients.

Supporting Research

Dominiczak MH, Broom JI. Vitamins and minerals. In: Baynes JW, Dominiczak MH, eds. Medical Biochemistry. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 11.

Drazen JM. Asthma. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine. 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 87.

Gold Standard Drug Database. Drug Monograph: Dyphylline, 2015. www.clinicalkey.com/#!/content/drug_monograph/6-s2.0-1312. Accessed July 15, 2016.

Gold Standard Drug Database. Drug Monograph: Theophylline, Aminophylline, 2016. www.clinicalkey.com/#!/content/drug_monograph/6-s2.0-599. Accessed July 15, 2016.

Murray MT. Asthma. In: Pizzorno PE, Murray MT, eds. Textbook Of Natural Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2013:chap 147.

Sachdev HPS, Shah D. Vitamin B complex deficiencies and excess. In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St Geme JW, Schor NF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 20th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 49.

Shenkin A, Roberts NB. Vitamins and trace elements. In: Burtis CA, Ashwood ER, Bruns DE, eds. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. 5th ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders; 2012:chap 31.

Review Date: 9/19/2016  

Reviewed By: Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD, Solutions Acupuncture, a private practice specializing in complementary and alternative medicine, Phoenix, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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