Aminophylline

• Maintenance treatment in asthma/COPD:
  • Start IV 380mg/day divided TDS/QID *3/7, then 507mg/day *3/7 divided TDS/QID, then 760 mg/day divided TDS/QID if tolerated
  • Max: 1015mg/day or 507mg/day if reduced clearance
  • 380mg aminophylline equivalent to 300mg theophylline

• Adjunct treatment in acute bronchospasm:
  • Healthy non-smoker:
    • IV 6-7mg/kg infused over 20 minutes.
    • 7mg/kg/hr *12 hours if no theophylline within 24 hours
    • Dose adjusted based on serum levels
    • 5mg/kg/h aminophylline equivalent to 0.4mg/kg/h theophylline

• • Smoker:
    • Loading dose: IV 6 mg/kg/dose then 0.8mg/kg/h for next 12 hours
    • 1mg/kg/hr*12 hours if no theophylline within 24 hours
    • 5mg/kg/h aminophylline equivalent to 0.4mg/kg/h theophylline

• • Elderly:
    • Loading dose: IV 6 mg/kg/dose then 0.3 mg/kg/h
    • 6mg/kg/hr* 12 hours if no theophylline within 24 hours
    • 3mg/kg/h aminophylline equivalent to 0.24mg/kg/h theophylline

• • Reduced clearance:
    • Loading dose: IV 6 mg/kg/dose then 25mg/kg/h
    • 5mg/kg/hr *12 hours if no theophylline within 24 hours
    • 25mg/kg/h aminophylline equivalent to 0.2mg/kg/h theophylline
      

• Neonatal apnea:
  • Loading dose: IV 5-6mg/kg/dose then 1-2 mg/kg/dose TDS/QID

Oral dosing:

• Adults:
  • PO 100mg-300mg TDS

• 1-15 years (<45kgs):
  • PO 15mg-17mg/kg/day, divided every 4 to 6 hours.
  • Max 760mg/day