Theophylline Toxicity in Emergency Medicine Follow-up
- Author: Greg Hymel, MD; Chief Editor: Asim Tarabar, MD more...
Further Inpatient Care
- Admit all patients with signs and symptoms of toxicity (acute or chronic), or observe them in the ED until their theophylline level decreases and their symptoms have resolved.
- Admit patients with theophylline levels higher than 30 mcg/mL.
- Admit patients demonstrating cardiovascular or neurologic dysfunction to the critical care unit.
Further Outpatient Care
- Unintentional overdose: For patients with therapeutic theophylline levels and minimal or no toxicity and acute ingestions less than 10 mg/kg, discharge and follow up within 24 hours.
- Intentional overdose: Consider discharge of asymptomatic patients with therapeutic levels after psychiatric evaluation.
Patient Education
- For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Drug Overdose Center and Poisoning - First Aid and Emergency Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education articles Poisoning, Drug Overdose, Activated Charcoal, and Poison Proofing Your Home.
Bronstein AC, Spyker DA, Cantilena LR Jr, Green JL, Rumack BH, Heard SE. 2009 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 27th Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila). Dec 2010;48(10):979-11178. [Full Text].
Seneff M, Scott J, Friedman B, Smith M. Acute theophylline toxicity and the use of esmolol to reverse cardiovascular instability. Ann Emerg Med. Jun 1990;19(6):671-3. [Medline].
Kearney TE, Manoguerra AS, Curtis GP, Ziegler MG. Theophylline toxicity and the beta-adrenergic system. Ann Intern Med. Jun 1985;102(6):766-9. [Medline].
Brashear RE, Aronoff GR, Brier RA. Activated charcoal in theophylline intoxication. J Lab Clin Med. Sep 1985;106(3):242-5. [Medline].
Charytan D, Jansen K. Severe metabolic complications from theophylline intoxication. Nephrology (Carlton). Oct 2003;8(5):239-42. [Medline].
Cooling DS. Theophylline toxicity. J Emerg Med. Jul-Aug 1993;11(4):415-25. [Medline].
Gaudreault P, Harwood-Nuss. Methylxanthines, Toxicology. In: Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine. 4th ed. 2005:1649-1652.
Henderson A, Wright DM, Pond SM. Management of theophylline overdose patients in the intensive care unit. Anaesth Intensive Care. Feb 1992;20(1):56-62. [Medline].
Kallstrom TJ. Evidence-based asthma management. Respir Care. Jul 2004;49(7):783-92. [Medline].
Marshall H, Emerman CL, Tintinalli J. Theophylline, Toxicology and Pharmacology. In: Emergency Medicine, A Comprehensive Study Guide. 6th ed. 2004:1098-1101.
Medical Economics Staff. Drugs. In: Physician's Desk Reference. Medical Economics Co; 1997.
Micromedex. Theophylline. In: Micromedex. 1974-2008:36.

