THEOPHYLLINE, EPHEDRINE, GUAIFENESIN & BARBITURATES

Brand & Generic Names

Bronkolixir
Bronkotabs
Guaiaphed
Mudrane GG
Quibron Plus

Basic Information

• Habit forming? Yes (barbiturates)
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? Yes
• Drug class: Bronchodilator (xanthine), cough/cold preparation, sympathomimetic, sedative

Uses

• Treatment for symptoms of bronchial asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis.
• Relieves wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablet, capsule or elixir--Swallow with liquid.

When to take:
Most effective taken on empty stomach 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating. However, may take with food to lessen stomach upset.

If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember up to 2 hours late. If more than 2 hours, wait for next scheduled dose (don't double this dose).

What drug does:
Relaxes and expands bronchial tubes.
Prevents cells from releasing allergy-causing chemicals (histamines).
Relaxes muscles of bronchial tubes.
Decreases blood vessel size and blood flow, thus causing decongestion.
Increases production of watery fluids to thin mucus so it can be coughed out or absorbed.
May partially block nerve impulses at nerve-cell connections.

Time lapse before drug works:
30 to 60 minutes.

Don't take with:
Non-prescription drugs with ephedrine, pseudoephedrine or epinephrine.
Non-prescription drugs for cough, cold, allergy or asthma without consulting doctor.
See Interaction Section and consult doctor.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Restlessness, irritability, confusion, hallucinations, muscle tremors, severe anxiety, rapid and irregular pulse, mild weakness, nausea, vomiting blood, delirium, coma.

WHAT TO DO:

• Overdose unlikely to threaten life. Depending on severity of symptoms and amount taken, call doctor, poison-control center or hospital emergency room for instructions.
• Dial 911 (emergency) or O (operator) for an ambulance or medical help. Then give first aid immediately.
• See EMERGENCY Information.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

Difficult breathing, Discontinue. Seek uncontrollable rapid emergency treatment. heart rate, loss of consciousness.

Common:

• Headache, irritability, nervousness, restlessness, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, irregular heartbeat.
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, paleness, heartburn.

Infrequent:

• Skin rash or hives, red or flushed face, appetite loss, diarrhea, abdominal pain.
• Frequent urination.

Rare:

None expected.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:

• You are allergic to any bronchodilator, ephedrine, any sympathomimetic drug*, cough or cold preparation containing guaifenesin.
• You have an active peptic ulcer.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have had impaired kidney or liver function.
• If you have gastritis, peptic ulcer, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, overactive thyroid gland, difficulty urinating, epilepsy, anemia, chronic pain.
• If you take medication for gout or have taken any MAO inhibitor in past 2 weeks, or have taken digitalis preparations in the last 7 days.
• If you will have surgery within 2 months, including dental surgery, requiring general or spinal anesthesia.

Over age 60:

• Adverse reactions and side effects may be more frequent and severe than in younger persons. Use small doses. For drug to work, you must drink 8 to 10 glasses of fluid per day.
• More likely to develop high blood pressure, heart rhythm disturbances, angina and to feel drug's stimulant effects.

Pregnancy:
Risk to unborn child outweighs drug benefits. Don't use.

Breast-feeding:
Drug passes into milk. Avoid drug or discontinue nursing until you finish medicine. Consult doctor for advice on maintaining milk supply.

Infants & children:
Use only under medical supervision.

Prolonged use:

• Stomach irritation.
• Excessive doses--Rare toxic psychosis.
• Men with enlarged prostate gland may have more urination difficulty.
• May cause addiction, anemia, chronic intoxication.
• May lower body temperature, making exposure to cold temperature hazardous.

Skin & sunlight:
May cause rash or intensify sunburn in areas exposed to sun or sunlamp.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
Don't drive or pilot aircraft until you learn how medicine affects you. Don't work around dangerous machinery. Don't climb ladders or work in high places. Danger increases if you drink alcohol or take medicine affecting alertness and reflexes, such as antihistamines, tranquilizers, sedatives, pain medicine, narcotics and mind-altering drugs.

Discontinuing:

• May be unnecessary to finish medicine. Follow doctor's instructions.
• If you develop withdrawal symptoms of hallucinations, agitation or sleeplessness after discontinuing, call doctor right away.

Others:
Great potential for abuse.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Allopurinol	Decreased allopurinol effect.
Anticonvulsants*	Changed seizure patterns.
Antidepressants,	Decreased antidepressant effect.
Antidiabetics*, oral	Increased phenobarbital effect.
Antihistamines*	Dangerous sedation. Avoid.
Aspirin, other	Decreased aspirin effect.
Beta-adrenergic	Decreased effect of
blockers*	drugs.
Carteolol	Increased barbiturate effect.
	Dangerous sedation.
Ciprofloxacin	Increased possibility of central
	nervous system poisoning, such as
	nausea, vomiting, restlessness,
	palpitations.
Clarithromycin	Increased concentration of
	theophylline.
Contraceptives*,	Decreased contraceptive
oral	effect.
Cortisone drugs*	Increased cortisone effect.
Digitalis	Serious heart rhythm
preparations*	disturbances.
Digitoxin	Decreased digitoxin effect.
Doxycycline	Decreased doxycycline effect.
Dronabinol	Increased effect of drugs.
Ephedrine	Increased effect of drugs.
Ergot	Serious blood pressure rise.
Erythromycins*	Increased bronchodilator effect.
Finasteride	Decreased theophylline effect.
Furosemide	Increased furosemide effect.
Griseofulvin	Decreased griseofulvin effect.
Guanethidine	Decreased effect of drugs.
Indapamide	Increased indapamide effect.
Lincomycins*	Increased bronchodilator effect.
Lithium	Decreased lithium effect.
MAO inhibitors*	Increased phenobarbital effect.
Mind-altering	Dangerous sedation.
drugs*	Avoid.
Narcotics*	Dangerous sedation. Avoid.
Nicardipine	May increase theophylline effect
	and toxicity.
Nicotine	Increased bronchodilator effect.
Nitrates*	Possible decreased effect of drugs.
Non-steroidal	Decreased anti-inflammatory
anti-inflammatory	effect.
Pain relievers*	Dangerous sedation. Avoid.
Probenecid	Decreased effect of drugs.
Propranolol	Decreased bronchodilator effect.
Pseudoephedrine	Increased pseudoephedrine effect.
Rauwolfia alkaloids*	Rapid heartbeat.
Sedatives*	Dangerous sedation. Avoid.
Sleep inducers*	Dangerous sedation. Avoid.
Sulfinpyrazone	Decreased sulfinpyrazone effect.
Terazosin	Decreased effect of terazosin.
Ticlopidine	Increased theophylline effect.
Tranquilizers*	Dangerous sedation. Avoid.
Troleandomycin	Increased bronchodilator effect.
Valproic acid	Increased phenobarbital effect.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	Possible fatal oversedation. Avoid.
Beverages:	You must drink 8 to 10 glasses of
	fluid per day for drug to work.
Caffeine drinks.	Nervousness and insomnia.
Cocaine:	High risk of heartbeat
	irregularities and high blood
	pressure.
Foods:	None expected.
Marijuana:	Excessive sedation, rapid
	heartbeat, possible heart rhythm
	disturbance. Avoid.
Tobacco:	Decreased bronchodilator effect.
	Smoking is damaging to all problems
	this medicine treats. Avoid.