Methylxanthines in the Treatment of Asthma: The Rise, the Fall, and the Possible Rise Again

Editorials15 August 1991Methylxanthines in the Treatment of Asthma: The Rise, the Fall, and the Possible Rise AgainE. R. McFadden Jr., MDE. R. McFadden Jr., MDSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-115-4-323 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptIn recent years, asthma therapy has undergone substantial revision in both concept and pharmacologic approach. Two decades ago, the available anti-asthma drugs included only bronchodilators; hence, therapeutic options were limited. One could only treat the clinical manifestations of the disease by either prescribing medications on an as-needed basis to reverse acute episodes of obstruction as they developed or attempting to limit the severity of recurrences by repetitively administering treatment during the day of the episode. Of the three classes of agents then on the market (methylxanthines, anticholinergics, and adrenergic agonists), the methylxanthines were best suited to this approach. These drugs,...References1. Hendles L and Weinberger M. Theophylline. A state of the art review. Pharmacotherapy. 1983;3:2-44. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Gross N and Skorodin M. Anticholinergic, antimuscarinic bronchodilators. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1984;129:856-70. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. McFadden E. Clinical use of beta-adrenergic agonists. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1985;76(Suppl):352-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. McFadden E. Methylxanthine therapy and reversible airway obstruction. Am J Med. 1985;79(Suppl 6A):1-4. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Rossing T, Fanta C, Goldstein D, Snapper J, and McFadden E. Emergency therapy of asthma: comparison of the acute effects of parenteral and inhaled sympathomimetics and infused aminophylline. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1980;122:365-71. MedlineGoogle Scholar6. Fanta C, Rossing T, and McFadden E. Treatment of acute asthma—Is combination therapy with sympathomimetics and methylxanthines indicated? Am J Med. 1986;80:5-10. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. Siegel D, Sheppard D, Galb A, and Weinberg P. Aminophylline increases the toxicity but not the efficiency of an inhaled beta-adrenergic agonist in the treatment of acute exacerbations of asthma. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1985;132:283-6. MedlineGoogle Scholar8. Wrenn K, Slovis C, Murphy F, and Greenberg R. Aminophylline therapy for acute bronchospastic disease in the emergency room. Ann Intern Med. 1991;115:241-7. LinkGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: E. R. McFaddenJr., MDAffiliations: University Hospitals of Cleveland Cleveland, OH 44106 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byDoxapram for the prevention and treatment of apnea in preterm infantsEfficacy of theophylline plus salmeterol/fluticasone propionate combination therapy in patients with asthmaAsthmaRespiratory Pharmacology and Aerosol TherapyTheophylline and CaffeineClinical significance of therapeutic drug monitoring in pharmacotherapy rationalization and individualizationSevere metabolic complications from theophylline intoxication. Case ReportDo Rural and Urban Children Have Comparable Asthma Care Utilization?Theophylline: Its rise, demise, and resurrectionThe efficacy and safety of salmeterol compared to theophylline: meta-analysis of nine controlled studiesEffects of Xanthine Derivatives on Phosphatidylcholine Secretion in Rat Type II Pneumocytes in the Presence of Activated EosinophilsThe Role of Theophylline in the Treatment of AsthmaEffects of theophylline and ipratropium on cognition in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseEarly corticosteroid use in acute exacerbations of chronic airflow obstructionEfficacy and safety of mepyramine-theophylline-acetate in the treatment of asthmatic crisis in childrenAsthma bronchialeTwo New Roles for Theophylline in the Asthmatic?Treatment of Acute AsthmaPatient compliance with bronchodilator therapy in asthmaLIFE-THREATENING ASTHMAWhat role for theophylline?Childhood asthma: Diagnosis and treatmentTheophylline: When should it be used?Are Current Pcdiatric Dose Recommendations for Intravenous Theophylline Appropriate?Changing Trends in the Treatment of Asthma in a Tertiary Canadian Pediatric HospitalBasic Pharmacotherapy for AsthmaThe Emergent Approach to AsthmaIntravenous Theophylline after Beta 2 -Agonist Treatment in Severe Acute Asthma. Effect on Patients Who Are Not Pre-treated with TheophyllineAminophylline in the Emergency DepartmentMark D. Siegel, MD 15 August 1991Volume 115, Issue 4Page: 323-324KeywordsAsthmaBronchodilatorsDrugsFallsMethylxanthine ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 15 August 1991 PDF downloadLoading ...