Conversion from intravenous to sustained-release oral theophylline in pediatric patients with asthma

A method for converting pediatric patients from intravenous aminophylline to sustained-release oral theophylline was evaluated in eight asthmatic children. The administration of Theo-Dur tablets two hours before discontinuation of a continuous intravenous aminophylline infusion resulted in a peak rise of 5.6 +/- 3.0 micrograms/ml over steady-state serum theophylline concentrations. This method of conversion is acceptable in children with equivalent oral and intravenous doses of theophylline and serum theophylline concentrations less than 15 micrograms/ml. Children with steady-state theophylline concentrations greater than 15 micrograms/ml are likely to develop concentrations exceeding the therapeutic range using this conversion method.