Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: FORADIL versus THEOPHYL.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: FORADIL versus THEOPHYL.
FORADIL vs THEOPHYL
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Formoterol is a long-acting beta2-adrenergic receptor agonist (LABA) that relaxes bronchial smooth muscle by increasing intracellular cyclic AMP.
Theophylline is a methylxanthine that causes bronchodilation primarily through inhibition of phosphodiesterase (PDE) and antagonism of adenosine receptors. It also has mild anti-inflammatory effects and enhances mucociliary clearance.
Inhalation: 12 mcg twice daily (every 12 hours) via Foradil Aerolizer.
300 mg orally every 6 hours or 400-600 mg extended-release orally every 12-24 hours; intravenous loading dose 5-6 mg/kg over 20-30 minutes, then continuous infusion 0.4-0.6 mg/kg/h
None Documented
None Documented
Clinical Note
moderateTheophylline + Gatifloxacin
"The metabolism of Gatifloxacin can be decreased when combined with Theophylline."
Clinical Note
moderateTheophylline + Rosoxacin
"The metabolism of Rosoxacin can be decreased when combined with Theophylline."
Clinical Note
moderateTheophylline + Levofloxacin
"The metabolism of Levofloxacin can be decreased when combined with Theophylline."
Clinical Note
moderateTheophylline + Trovafloxacin
Terminal half-life: 7-10 hours. Steady-state achieved within 3-5 days; clinical context: allows twice-daily dosing for bronchodilation.
Terminal elimination half-life: Adults nonsmokers: 6–12 h (mean 8.7 h); adult smokers: 4–5 h; children: 3–5 h; neonates: 20–30 h; hepatic cirrhosis: up to 30 h. Half-life increases with congestive heart failure, fever, and concurrent CYP1A2 inhibitors (e.g., cimetidine, fluvoxamine).
Renal (60% as unchanged drug and metabolites) and fecal (40% as metabolites).
Renal: 10% unchanged in adults (higher in neonates). Hepatic metabolism to inactive metabolites (1,3-dimethyluric acid, 3-methylxanthine, 1-methyluric acid) excreted renally; fecal excretion <5%.
Category C
Category C
Bronchodilator
Bronchodilator
"The metabolism of Trovafloxacin can be decreased when combined with Theophylline."