Taking theophylline with other medicines and herbal supplements - Brand name: Uniphyllin Continus

Cautions with other medicines

Some medicines affect the way theophylline works. Some can increase or reduce the levels of theophylline in your blood.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any of these medicines:

• steroids, such as prednisolone or dexamethasone
• oral contraceptives, such as the combined pill
• epilepsy medicines, such as phenytoin or carbamazepine
• medicines to treat high blood pressure or other heart problems, such as diltiazem, propranolol or verapamil
• medicines to treat heartburn and stomach ulcers, such as cimetidine or nizatidine
• carbimazole, to treat an overactive thyroid
• antiviral medicines, such as aciclovir or ritonavir
• antibiotics, such as rifampicin, clarithromycin or ciprofloxacin

These are not all the medicines that can affect theophylline. Check the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

Mixing theophylline with herbal remedies and supplements

Theophylline can be affected by many herbal remedies and supplements.

There's not enough information to say that complementary medicines, herbal remedies and supplements are safe to take with theophylline. They're not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines. They're generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines.