Theo-Dur: will it kill me?

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JakeWrite - 15 Dec 2003 22:30 GMT

I have some kind of nocturnal asthma/sleep-disordered breathing. Inhalers don't
seem to work. Ditto for antihistamines, etc. Tried CPAP and it doesn't do
anything. Not sure it should be expected to if my problems are related to
allergies.

I recently ordered some Theo-Dur from an online pharmacy in an effort to
overcome any problems I may have getting the inhaled meds into my lungs.
However, it seems as though even a slight overdosage could be fatal. Is this
accurate? At 100mg/pill, am I really risking my life if I take one or two for a
few nights? If it seemed to help, I'd attempt to consult my allergist to go on
it permanently. Problem is, she's not very receptive to my issues.

Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

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Colin Campbell - 15 Dec 2003 23:21 GMT

>I recently ordered some Theo-Dur from an online pharmacy in an effort to
>overcome any problems I may have getting the inhaled meds into my lungs.
>However, it seems as though even a slight overdosage could be fatal. Is this
>accurate? At 100mg/pill, am I really risking my life if I take one or two for a
>few nights? If it seemed to help, I'd attempt to consult my allergist to go on
>it permanently. Problem is, she's not very receptive to my issues.

Ack! Theophyline is very dangerous if you do not use it properly. It
is a medication with a narrow 'therapeutic range' (the difference
between the dose that is too little to help and an overdose is very
small). Generally, it takes a blood test to ensure that the levels of
theo in your bloodstream are correct.

BTW, are you aware that theophyline and coffee (or anything with
caffeine in it) do not mix?

"...there is always a well-known solution to every
human problem--neat, plausible, and wrong."
H. L. Mencken

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Donald Link - 16 Mar 2004 10:48 GMT

You should be very careful with Theo-Dur because most competent
doctors have taken patients off it because it can build up and cause
complication and even in some cases deadly results. There are many
good substitutes like singular. I would forget the allergist and go
to a good pulmonary specialist and be tested. Self medication without
proper testing and dianostic proceedure can kill you or at least make
you very, very sick. Sometimes even then you can be treated by
different doctors with different proceedures. I found that allergist
next to useless in treating asthma, especially when not related to
allergies. After nearly 20 years of changing treatments I found the
most knowlegeable doctors at my local vet hospital. There is a
problem with GERDs and asthma that they found and treated and I have
been basically in really good shape since. Also, exercise is one of
the best things you can do for asthma.

>I have some kind of nocturnal asthma/sleep-disordered breathing. Inhalers don't
>seem to work. Ditto for antihistamines, etc. Tried CPAP and it doesn't do
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
>Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

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Dave Oshinsky - 19 Mar 2004 22:14 GMT

> You should be very careful with Theo-Dur because most competent
> doctors have taken patients off it because it can build up and cause
> complication and even in some cases deadly results.

I was on theophylline years ago, and it was only marginally helpful.
The MD who prescribed it tested my theophylline blood level several times
in order to arrive at the "optimal" dosage. Theophylline does seem to have
been replaced by inhaled steroids as the "drug of choice".

> ... I found that allergist
> next to useless in treating asthma, especially when not related to
> allergies.

Ditto here.

> After nearly 20 years of changing treatments I found the
> most knowlegeable doctors at my local vet hospital.

Indeed, it does appear that the average veterinarian knows more about
treating asthma than the average MD. 8-}

> There is a
> problem with GERDs and asthma that they found and treated and I have
> been basically in really good shape since.

Interesting. Years from now, I'm assuming that asthma will have been
split into multiple distinct diseases. In my case, it appears that my
"asthma" was due to a long-term infection. Details on my experiences
are at http://oshinsky.org/asthma.htm . I'm currently asthma-free after
years of struggling with it.

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PENMART01 - 19 Mar 2004 22:48 GMT

>(Dave Oshinsky) writes:
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>Indeed, it does appear that the average veterinarian knows more about
>treating asthma than the average MD.

The average vet knows more about treating all diseases than do even the top
rated MDs, and they're far more compassionate towards their patients than,
unlike MDs, for their wallets. Today's MDs only kept awake during their
business/accounting classes... most all their medical knowledge comes directly
from pharmaceutical sales reps and associates/cronies who just happen to also
be like themselves partner-owners of various diagnostic labs, rehab/therapy
facilities, nursing homes, and the like.

---= BOYCOTT FRENCH--GERMAN (belgium) =---
---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
Sheldon
````````````
"Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."

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