Theophylline, School Performance, and the Food and Drug Administration

Since an article by Rachelefsky and his colleagues was published in December 1986, there has been increased concern among children, their parents, and physicians regarding the potential for theophylline to produce behavioral changes that might adversely affect school performance. Furakawa et al, in a pilot study published in March 1984 and a well-controlled study published in January 1988, concluded that such concern was justified, based on cognitive and behavioral findings in children treated with theophylline.