Therapy

Why?

• It improves symptoms, without clearly reducing hospital admissions or respiratory function ^a
• Adverse effects (nausea and vomiting) are common. ^a

Note 

• Measure theophylline levels in patients on oral theophylline.

Aminophylline improves symptoms, but causes adverse effects.

Patient	Treatment	Comparison	Outcome	CER	OR (95% CI)	NNT (95% CI)
COPD exacerbation a	iv aminophylline	placebo	symptomatic improvement reported by patient at hours	74.7%	2.46 (1.04 to 5.80)	8 (5 to 140)
	iv aminophylline	placebo	nausea and vomiting at hours	2.3%	4.53 (1.49 to 13.76)	14 (5 to 93)