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This medication is used to treat and prevent wheezing and trouble breathing caused by ongoing lung disease (e.g., asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis) along with stuffy nose. This product contains 3 medicines, theophylline, pseudoephedrine, and guaifenesin. Theophylline belongs to a class of drugs known as xanthines. It works on the airways by relaxing muscles, opening air passages to improve breathing, and decreasing the lungs' response to irritants. Pseudoephedrine is called a sympathomimetic and works by decreasing swelling inside the nose. Guaifenesin is called an expectorant. It works by making phlegm in the breathing tubes and lungs more liquid. This helps you clear phlegm better. Controlling symptoms of breathing problems can decrease time lost from work or school.This medication does not work immediately and should not be used for sudden attacks of breathing trouble. Your doctor should prescribe a quick-relief medicine/inhaler (e.g., albuterol) for sudden attacks of shortness of breath/asthma while you are taking this medication. You should always have a quick-relief inhaler with you. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
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Theophylline-Pseudoephed-GG images:
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| Overview |
Photos |
How To Use |
Side Effects |
Precautions |
Missed Dose |
Drug Interactions |
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Theophylline-Pseudoephed-GG
Uses
This medication is used to treat and prevent wheezing and trouble breathing caused by ongoing lung disease (e.g., asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis) along with stuffy nose. This product contains 3 medicines, theophylline, pseudoephedrine, and guaifenesin. Theophylline belongs to a class of drugs known as xanthines. It works on the airways by relaxing muscles, opening air passages to improve breathing, and decreasing the lungs' response to irritants. Pseudoephedrine is called a sympathomimetic and works by decreasing swelling inside the nose. Guaifenesin is called an expectorant. It works by making phlegm in the breathing tubes and lungs more liquid. This helps you clear phlegm better. Controlling symptoms of breathing problems can decrease time lost from work or school.This medication does not work immediately and should not be used for sudden attacks of breathing trouble. Your doctor should prescribe a quick-relief medicine/inhaler (e.g., albuterol) for sudden attacks of shortness of breath/asthma while you are taking this medication. You should always have a quick-relief inhaler with you. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
Notes
- Do not share this medication with others.Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., theophylline blood levels) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects.
- It is important that you do not miss your medication or take extra doses for 2 to 3 days before your theophylline blood levels are checked.
- Consult your doctor for more details.To help loosen phlegm, drink plenty of fluids while taking this medication unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.
Storage
- Store at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light.
- Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Overdose
- Symptoms of overdose may include: agitation, nausea, frequent vomiting, trouble sleeping, difficulty urinating, unusual thirst, fever, ringing in the ears, seeing flashes of light, chest pain, fast/irregular heartbeat, confusion, seizures.
How To Use
- Take this medication by mouth with or without food, usually every 6 to 12 hours or exactly as directed by your doctor.
- If this medication upsets your stomach, take it with food.Dosage is based on your age, weight, medical condition, theophylline blood levels, response to treatment, and other drugs you maybe taking (see also Drug Interactions section).
- Your doctor may increase your dose over time based on your theophylline blood levels and response to treatment.This medicine works best when the amount in your body is kept at a constant level.
- Therefore, use this drug at evenly spaced intervals.
- To help you remember, take it at the same times each day.
- Do not increase your dose unless directed to do so by your doctor.
- Taking too much theophylline may cause severe side effects.
- Your doctor will be monitoring your theophylline blood levels and asthma symptoms to determine your correct dose.Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens or if you also have fever or rash because you may have an infection that needs to be treated.
Side Effects
- Stomach pain/cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, headache, trouble sleeping, fast heartbeat, dizziness, irritability, restlessness, nervousness, shaking, unusual sweating, flushing, and increased urination may occur.
- If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.This product may reduce blood flow to your hands and feet, causing them to feel cold.
- Smoking may worsen this effect.
- Dress warmly and avoid tobacco use.Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.
- Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: rapid breathing, mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion, anxiety, panic, unusual thoughts/behavior), weakness, muscle twitching/pain/tenderness, severe/uncontrolled shaking, difficulty urinating, decreased sexual ability.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: chest pain, fainting, fast/slow heartbeat, sudden pounding/irregular heartbeat, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, black/tarry stools, seizures.A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
- However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Precautions
- Before taking guaifenesin/theophylline/pseudoephedrine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to any of the ingredients; or to certain other medications (e.g., theobromine, aminophylline, caffeine, ephedrine, phenylephrine); or if you have any other allergies.This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions.
- Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: severe high blood pressure, severe heart disease (e.g., severe coronary artery disease, angina, past heart attack), closed-angle glaucoma, difficulty urinating (e.g., due to enlarged prostate).Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: smoking, a certain lung problem (cystic fibrosis), diabetes, stroke, heart problems (e.g., chronic heart failure, angina, fast heart rhythm problems), a certain slow heart rhythm problem (sinus bradycardia), blood flow problems (e.g., Raynaud's disease, peripheral vascular disease), low blood flow to the brain (cerebral insufficiency), persistent low blood oxygen with long-term lung disease, controlled high blood pressure, kidney disease, severe liver disease (e.g., cirrhosis), seizures, stomach/intestinal ulcer, thyroid disease, cough with large amounts of phlegm, trouble sleeping, a certain severe infection (sepsis with failure of several body organs), severe low blood pressure with fainting (shock).This drug may make you dizzy.
- Use caution while driving, using machinery, or doing any activity that requires alertness.
- Limit alcoholic beverages.Other common illnesses may affect how your body gets rid of theophylline.
- If you develop fever/flu-like symptoms while taking this medication, tell your doctor promptly.
- The dose of your medicine may need to be adjusted.Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using this medication.Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to its effects.
- Careful monitoring of side effects and theophylline blood levels is recommended.Caution is advised when using this drug in children and adolescents because their bodies change how they get rid of theophylline as they develop.
- Careful monitoring of side effects, drug blood levels, and dose adjustment is recommended.
- School-age children may be particularly sensitive to restlessness.
- Special caution and monitoring is recommended in infants younger than 3 months with kidney problems.
- Consult your doctor for more information.During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed.
- Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
- Blood levels may change during the last 3 months of pregnancy.
- Careful monitoring of side effects, drug blood levels, and dose adjustment is recommended.
- Consult your doctor for more information.The theophylline and pseudoephedrine in this product pass into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant (e.g., irritability).
- Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Missed Dose
- If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule.
- Do not double the dose to catch up.
Drug Interactions
- Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them.
- Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.
- Doing so could change how your body gets rid of theophylline, increasing side effects or decreasing effectiveness.This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: MAO inhibitors (e.g., furazolidone, isocarboxazid, linezolid, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, selegiline, rasagiline, tranylcypromine).Avoid taking MAO inhibitors within 2 weeks before, during, and after treatment with this medication.
- In some cases a serious, possibly fatal drug interaction may occur.If you are currently using any of these medications, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting this product.Before using guaifenesin/theophylline/pseudoephedrine, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: other medicines that contain pseudoephedrine, adenosine, adrenaline-like drugs (e.g., ephedrine, phenylephrine), allopurinol, aminoglutethimide, certain antiarrhythmic drugs (e.g., mexiletine, propafenone, moricizine), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital), benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam, flurazepam, lorazepam), certain beta blockers (e.g., propranolol), birth control pills, cimetidine, digoxin, disulfiram, estrogen, fluvoxamine, interferon-alpha, macrolide antibiotics (e.g., erythromycin, clarithromycin), isoproterenol, lithium, methotrexate, pentoxifylline, certain quinolones (e.g., ciprofloxacin, enoxacin), rifampin, St John's wort, sulfinpyrazone, tacrine, thiabendazole, ticlopidine, verapamil, zileuton, reserpine, guanethidine, methyldopa.Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products, diet aids) because they may contain ingredients that could increase the side effects of this medication.
- Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.Tobacco/marijuana smoking decreases blood levels of this medication.
- Tell your doctor if you smoke or have recently stopped smoking.
- Your dose of medication may need to be adjusted.Caffeine and alcohol can increase the side effects of this medication.
- Avoid drinking large amounts of beverages containing alcohol or caffeine (e.g., coffee, tea, colas) or eating large amounts of chocolate.Certain diets (high-protein/low-carbohydrate or high-carbohydrate/low-protein) may change the effect of theophylline.
- Tell your doctor if you are following a dietary plan or eat beef every day.
- The dose of your medicine may need to be adjusted.The theophylline in this product may interfere with certain laboratory tests (e.g., blood sugar, cholesterol, uric acid, dipyridamole-thallium imaging tests), possibly causing false test results.
- The guaifenesin in this product can affect the results of certain lab tests (e.g., uric acid levels, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels, vanillylmandelic acid levels), possibly causing false test results.
- Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this medication.Laboratory tests for theophylline blood levels may be affected by other drugs/foods, possibly causing false test results.
- Tell all your doctors and laboratory personnel if you use any of the following products: caffeine, theobromine, chocolate, furosemide, sulfathiazole, phenylbutazone, probenecid, acetaminophen, cefazolin, cephalothin.
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CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgement of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.
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