Deriphylline IV 2ml Dose Information
Deriphylline IV 2ml typically contains 200mg of theophylline (aminophylline equivalent), as most standard IV formulations are concentrated at 100mg/ml, though you must verify the specific concentration on your product label as formulations vary by manufacturer.
Standard IV Theophylline Concentrations
- Most IV theophylline/aminophylline preparations are formulated at 25mg/ml (aminophylline) or 100mg/ml (theophylline), meaning 2ml would contain either 50mg or 200mg depending on the specific product 1, 2
- You must check your specific vial concentration before administration - this is critical given theophylline's narrow therapeutic window and risk of toxicity at levels >15 μg/L 1, 2
Target Therapeutic Levels
- The therapeutic serum concentration target for theophylline is 5-15 μg/L (equivalent to 5-15 mg/L) for both asthma and COPD management 1, 2
- Doses must be individualized based on serum concentration monitoring to maintain this narrow therapeutic window 1, 2, 3
IV Dosing Context for Acute Situations
- For acute severe asthma in adults not currently on oral theophyllines, a typical loading dose of aminophylline is 250mg IV over 20 minutes 2
- Never administer bolus aminophylline (250mg IV) to patients already taking oral theophyllines due to severe toxicity risk 2
- IV magnesium sulfate 2g over 20 minutes is preferred over theophylline for severe refractory asthma in emergency settings 4
Critical Safety Considerations
- Theophylline has significant toxicity risks including cardiac arrhythmias and seizures at supratherapeutic levels >15 μg/L 1, 3
- Common side effects even at therapeutic levels include nausea (1.05-10.9% incidence), vomiting, gastroesophageal reflux, and headache 4, 1, 3
- Hepatic metabolism via cytochrome P450 creates numerous drug interactions that can dramatically alter serum levels 4, 3
Clinical Positioning
- Theophylline is reserved as add-on therapy for patients with severe COPD or asthma not controlled by optimal inhaled bronchodilator and corticosteroid therapy 1, 2, 5
- Inhaled β2-agonists are strongly preferred over IV theophylline for acute bronchospasm, as there is no evidence of improved outcomes with IV theophylline compared to selective inhaled β-agonists 4