[The clinical application of long-acting preparations of theophylline]

The advantage of long-acting preparations of theophylline in clinical practice is that they can be used to maintain a stable concentration of the drug in blood for long periods of time. These preparations are also particularly useful in non-compliant patients. In addition, by reducing the circadian variation in the concentration of theophylline in blood they reduce the risk of early morning asthma attacks. In a survey of physicians in private practice, 63% said that theophylline preparations are appropriate as drugs of first choice in treating asthma, and the average of the reported daily doses was 369.5 mg.