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Aerophyllin
Last reviewed: 03.07.2025
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Aerophyllin is a bronchodilator drug.
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Indications Aerophyllin
The medicine is prescribed for the treatment of bronchial asthma.
The drug may also be indicated in the complex treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary pathology, as well as other diseases in which spasms of the smooth muscles of the bronchi are observed (for example, with pulmonary emphysema).
Release form
Available in tablet form. One blister contains 10 tablets. One package contains 1 or 2 blister strips.
Pharmacodynamics
Doxofylline is the active substance of the drug. It inhibits PDE enzymes, thereby increasing the level of cAMP inside the cells, and in addition, slowing down the processes of actin synthesis together with myosin. As a result of doxofylline use, bronchodilation develops, caused by slowing down the contractile activity of the smooth muscles of the bronchi.
Aerophyllin stimulates exclusively the smooth muscles of the pulmonary vessels, as well as the bronchi, without affecting other vessels with the heart, and in addition the kidneys and the central nervous system.
Pharmacokinetics
With three-times daily use of the drug, doxofylline remains in the plasma at an effective medicinal concentration.
After oral administration, the active substance reaches peak plasma concentration after 1 hour. Its absolute bioavailability is 62-63%, and the synthesis figures with plasma proteins are approximately 48%.
The half-life of the drug is 6 hours.
Excretion occurs with urine (approximately 4%), the substance is excreted unchanged.
Dosing and administration
Aerophyllin is taken orally, regardless of food intake. If necessary, the tablet can be divided. The duration of treatment, as well as dosages, are prescribed by the doctor, depending on the characteristics of the patient's body, as well as the nature and severity of the pathology.
The adult dosage is 1 tablet 2-3 times a day (if necessary, the dosage can be increased).
Children aged 6-12 years are prescribed 0.5 tablets 2-3 times a day. The daily dosage for children is usually calculated as 12-18 mg/kg of the child's weight.
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Use Aerophyllin during pregnancy
Pregnant women are prescribed doxophylline only in cases where the potential benefit to the woman greatly exceeds the risk of negative consequences for the child. During treatment with Aerophyllin, pregnant women must be monitored by their doctor.
If you cannot do without taking the medicine during the lactation period, you should stop breastfeeding for the duration of the treatment. Breastfeeding may be resumed after finishing taking the medicine and after consulting with your doctor.
Contraindications
Among the main contraindications to the use of Aerophyllin:
- individual intolerance to the active substance of the drug, as well as xanthine derivatives;
- the presence of galactosemia, lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption in patients;
- patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction, as well as those with significantly reduced blood pressure (systolic blood pressure is less than 90 mm);
- children under 6 years of age.
Doxofylline should be prescribed with special caution if the patient has chronic heart failure.
In addition, the drug should be carefully prescribed to people suffering from high blood pressure, cardiopathy, oxygen starvation, chronic ventricular failure (right ventricle), arrhythmia, congestive heart failure, and hyperthyroidism. It should also be carefully prescribed to elderly patients.
Caution is also required when using doxofylline in patients with kidney/liver dysfunction, hyperthermia or peptic ulcer, or who suffer from alcoholism.
Side effects Aerophyllin
As a result of taking the medicine, the following side effects are sometimes observed:
- gastrointestinal tract: pain and discomfort in the epigastrium, GERD, bowel disorder, nausea with vomiting, dyspeptic symptoms;
- CNS and PNS organs: disturbance of sleep and wakefulness patterns, emotional weakness, headaches and dizziness, feeling of increased irritability and tremors;
- cardiovascular and hematopoietic systems: development of extrasystole, sensation of heart rhythm, increase in plasma glucose concentration;
- allergies: angioedema, urticaria, and anaphylaxis;
- Others: rapid breathing, as well as proteinuria.
If side effects occur, you should consult your doctor.
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Overdose
An overdose of doxofylline can provoke arrhythmia, clonic or tonic seizures, increase the excited state or diuresis, and in addition, the severity of the side effects of the drug.
There is no specific antidote to eliminate symptoms. In case of doxophilline poisoning, it is necessary to stop taking the drug, and then do gastric lavage and give the patient enterosorbents. In addition, procedures are carried out to support cardiac function. In case of seizures, symptomatic medications are indicated.
After the symptoms of overdose have been eliminated, treatment with Aerophyllin may be resumed.
Interactions with other drugs
During treatment with Aerophyllin, you should limit your intake of food, drinks and medications that contain caffeine.
It is contraindicated to combine doxofylline with other xanthines.
Aerophyllin should be administered with caution simultaneously with sympathomimetic drugs.
The half-life of the active component of the drug may increase due to the combination with lincomycin or erythromycin, and also cimetidine, clindamycin, allopurinol and troleandomycin, as well as propanolol, fluvoxamine and influenza vaccine. Also with disulfiram, oral contraceptives and interferon alpha. In such cases, the dosage of Aerophyllin must be adjusted.
In patients taking anticonvulsants (including phenytoin), as well as ritonavir and rifampicin with sulfinpyrazone, and also in active smokers, when combining these drugs with Aerophyllin, the half-life of the latter decreases - in this case, the dose of doxophylline also needs to be adjusted.
The combination with doxofylline can enhance the toxic properties of ephedrine, halothane, and ketamine.
The drug reduces the effectiveness of adenosine, lithium drugs and other drugs that block neuromuscular transmission.
As a result of the use of Aerophyllin, hypokalemia caused by oxygen starvation or the use of β2-adrenergic receptor agonists, diuretic drugs, and corticosteroids may increase.
It is prohibited to combine the drug with β-blockers.
Storage conditions
The medicine should be kept in conditions standard for medicinal preparations - a dry, dark place, inaccessible to children. Temperature - maximum 25 degrees.
Shelf life
Aerophyllin is permitted to be used for 3 years from the date of manufacture of the medicine.
Attention!
To simplify the perception of information, this instruction for use of the drug "Aerophyllin" translated and presented in a special form on the basis of the official instructions for medical use of the drug. Before use read the annotation that came directly to medicines.
Description provided for informational purposes and is not a guide to self-healing. The need for this drug, the purpose of the treatment regimen, methods and dose of the drug is determined solely by the attending physician. Self-medication is dangerous for your health.