Uniphyllin continus

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Nausea and vomiting

Stomach irritation

Increased heart rate (tachycardia)

Awareness of your heart beat (heart palpitations)

Headache

Restlessness

Difficulty in sleeping (insomnia)

Fits (convulsions)

Low blood potassium level (hypokalaemia)

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.

Children must not take ephedrine (a decongestant found in some cough and cold remedies) while taking theophylline.

The following medicines may increase the blood level of theophylline; your doctor may need to reduce your theophylline dose if you take any of these in order to avoid side effects:

aciclovir

allopurinol

calcium channel blockers, eg diltiazem, verapamil, nifedipine

cimetidine

contraceptives containing an oestrogen

disulfiram

flu vaccine

fluvoxamine

interferon alfa

isoniazid

quinolone type antibiotics, eg ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, norfloxacin

macrolide type antibiotics, eg erythromycin, clarithromycin

methotrexate

mexiletine

pentoxifylline

propafenone

propranolol

tiabendazole

ticlopidine

viloxazine.

The following medicines may decrease the blood level of theophylline; your doctor may need to increase your theophylline dose if you take any of these, in order to make sure the theophylline is effective:

aminoglutethimide

antiepileptic medicines, such as phenytoin, carbamazepine

barbiturates

moracizine

rifampicin

rifabutin

ritonavir

sulfinpyrazone

the herbal remedy, St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum).

Theophylline may decrease the blood levels of the following medicines, which may reduce their effects:

alprazolam

lithium

phenytoin

carbamazepine.

Theophylline should not normally be taken with beta-blockers such as propranolol, as these can cause the airways to narrow, thus opposing the effects of theophylline.

There may be a risk of seizures if ketamine is taken with theophylline.

Theophylline may oppose the sedative effects of benzodiazepines, eg diazepam, clonazepam.

The level of thyroid hormones in the body affects the way the body handles theophylline. If you have high thyroid hormone levels and start treatment to lower them, eg with medicines such as carbimazole, propylthiouracil or radioactive iodine, your doctor may decrease your theophylline dose. If you have low thyroid hormone levels and start treatment with thyroxine, your doctor may increase your theophylline dose.

Theophylline may potentially decrease the amount of potassium in the blood. If it is taken in combination with any of the following medicines, which can also lower potassium in the blood, the risk of a low blood potassium level (hypokalaemia) is increased:

corticosteroids, such as beclometasone and prednisolone

beta 2 agonists, such as salbutamol and salmeterol

diuretics, such as bendroflumethiazide and furosemide.

A low blood potassium level can have serious effects, which is why people with severe asthma, who may be taking several of these medicines, should have their blood potassium level monitored regularly.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient

Nuelin SA

Slo-phyllin

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