Summary
Theophylline and subcutaneous terbutaline are frequently used concurrently in the management of acute asthma. Recent evidence demonstrating a reduction in theophylline serum concentrations during concomitant oral terbutaline therapy prompted our evaluation of subcutaneous terbutaline's effect on theophylline pharmacokinetics. Using a randomized, placebo controlled, crossover design, the disposition of a single oral theophylline dose (7 mg/kg) was studied in eight healthy, adult males before and after repeated subcutaneous administration of terbutaline (0.25 mg). Two-way analysis of variance revealed no significant difference in elimination rate constant (ke), area under the concentration-time curve (AUC), or apparent oral clearance (CL/F) of theophylline following terbutaline administration. These results indicate that subcutaneous administration of terbutaline does not alter the pharmacokinetics of single, oral doses of theophylline in adults.
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Snidow, J., Stephens, M., Self, T. et al. Acute effects of short-term subcutaneous terbutaline on theophylline disposition. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 32, 191–193 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00542194
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00542194