Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
Theophylline overdose; Xanthine overdose
Symptoms
The major life-threatening events of theophylline intoxication are seizures and heart rhythm disturbances.
Symptoms in adults may include:
- Gastrointestinal
- Increased appetite
- Increased thirst
- Nausea
- Vomiting (possibly with blood)
- Heart and blood
- High or low blood pressure
Irregular heartbeat Rapid heart rate - Pounding heartbeat (palpitations)
- Lungs
Breathing difficulty
- Muscles and joints
- Muscle twitching and cramping
- Nervous system
Confusion Convulsions Dizziness - Fever
- Hallucinations (thinking something is there, but it's not)
- Headache
- Irritability
- Psychosis
- Restlessness
- Sweating
- Trouble sleeping
Symptoms in babies may include:
- Gastrointestinal
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Heart and blood
- Irregular heartbeat
- Low blood pressure
- Rapid heartbeat
Shock
- Lungs
- Rapid, deep breathing
- Muscles and joints
Muscle cramps - Twitching
- Nervous system
- Convulsions
- Irritability
- Tremors
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Aminophylline overdose Treatment
Review Date: 02/03/2009
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason
Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve,
MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
