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Updated: Aug 12, 2026

High Content Screening Analysis to Evaluate the Toxicological Effects of Harmful and Potentially Harmful Constituents (HPHC)
Published on: May 10, 2016
Clinical experience with theophylline. Relarionships between dosage, serum concentration, and toxicity
Abstract:
Relationships between theophylline dosage, serum theophylline concentration, and theophylline toxicity were evaluated retrospectively in 47 hospitalized adults. The amount of theophylline administered daily varied more than sixfold, from 6 to 38 mg/kg. The serum theophylline concentrations, however, varied 24-fold from 2 to 49 mug/ml. The relationship between daily dosage and serum concentration was unpredictable in an individual patient. Fourteen patients (30%) had a toxic reaction to theophylline. Toxic symptoms, which were not always gastrointestinal, occurred commonly with serum concentrations over 25 mug/ml but were not noted with concentrations below 15 mug/ml. High serum theophylline concentrations and a toxic reaction developed just as often with the oral route as when the drug was given intravenously. In six patients, measurement of serum theophylline concentration disclosed subtherapeutic concentrations. Serum theophylline determination appears to be important clinically in guiding effective and safe usage of theophylline.
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