The disposition of inhaled lysine theophylline in volunteers

Six healthy volunteers received an iv infusion of 317 mg lysine theophylline (equivalent to 197 mg anhydrous theophylline) in order to calculate theophylline clearance by standard methods. They subsequently received a 20 minute inhalation of nebulised lysine theophylline. Serum and salivary theophylline concentrations were measured and all saliva was collected for the first hour. From these concentrations estimates were made of the distribution of theophylline into the blood and saliva with 40% to 94% identified in the blood. Very high salivary concentrations were reached during the inhalation phase with saliva: serum concentration ratios of between 60 and 1600.