Aminophylline
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about DBL Aminophylline Injection. It does
not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you being
given DBL Aminophylline Injection against the benefits this medicine is expected to
have for you.
If you have any concerns about being given this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet in a safe place.
You may need to read it again.
What DBL Aminophylline Injection is used for
Aminophylline is used to relieve breathing problems which may occur with:
asthma
emphysema,
bronchitis or
other diseases.
Aminophylline works by helping to open up your airways, allowing more air into your
lungs.
Your doctor may have prescribed DBL Aminophylline Injection for another reason.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why DBL Aminophylline Injection has
been prescribed for you.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you are given DBL Aminophylline Injection
When you must not be given it
You must not be given DBL Aminophylline Injection if you have an allergy to aminophylline,
theophylline, ethylenediamine or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this
leaflet.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
shortness of breath
wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
rash, itching or hives on the skin
You must not be given DBL Aminophylline Injection if you have any of the following
conditions:
heart disease caused by poor blood flow in the blood vessels of the heart (coronary
artery disease)
bronchiolitis (bronchopneumonia – a serious lung infection with fever, chills and
coughing).
Before you are given it
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have allergies to:
any other medicines
any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any other heath/medical conditions,
especially the following:
liver disease
kidney disease
over- or under-active thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism)
heart disease or chest pain (angina)
irregular or fast heart beat (tachyarrhythmia)
seizures, fits or convulsions (epilepsy)
lung problems, including pneumonia or serious lung infection
stomach ulcer
glaucoma
diabetes mellitus
gastric reflux
alcoholism
high blood pressure (hypertension)
Tell your doctor if you have or have recently had:
the flu or flu vaccine
a fever
Tell your doctor if you smoke cigarettes or marijuana.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of being given aminophylline during
pregnancy.
Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed.
Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of being given aminophylline when
breast-feeding.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you are
given aminophylline.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines
that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food
shop.
Some medicines may interfere with aminophylline. These include:
caffeine or theophylline
oral contraceptives (the Pill)
antibiotics (medicines used to treat infections)
some sedatives
some drugs used to treat depression, including lithium
some drugs used to treat epilepsy, including phenytoin and phenobarbitone
some drugs used to treat heart disease
St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum).
These medicines may be affected by aminophylline or may affect how well it works.
You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different
medicines.
Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or
avoid while using DBL Aminophylline Injection.
How DBL Aminophylline Injection is given
How much is given
Your doctor will decide what dose of DBL Aminophylline Injection you will receive
and how long you will receive it for. This depends on your medical condition and
other factors, such as your weight.
Sometimes only a single dose is required.
How it is given
DBL Aminophylline Injection can be given in two ways:
as a slow injection into a vein
as an infusion (drip) into a vein.
DBL Aminophylline Injection must only be given by a doctor or nurse.
If you were given too much (overdose)
As DBL Aminophylline Injection is given to you in hospital under the supervision of
your doctor, it is very unlikely that you will receive too much.
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13
11 26 in Australia or call 0800 764 766 in New Zealand) for advice, or go to Accident
and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have
been given too much DBL Aminophylline Injection. Do this even if there are no signs
of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
Symptoms of an aminophylline overdose include the side effects listed below in the
‘Side Effects’ section but are usually of a more severe nature.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any concerns.
While you are being given DBL Aminophylline Injection
Things you must do
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you have any concerns before, during or after
administration of DBL Aminophylline Injection.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are
being treated with aminophylline.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time
they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following while you are being
given the injection:
nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting
headache
slow, irregular heart beat or rapid heart beat
dizziness, faintness or light-headedness
extreme thirst
fever
a buzzing, whistling or ringing in your ears (tinnitus)
These may be signs that the injection is being given too fast.
Also tell your doctor or nurse if you notice any of the following at any time during
treatment with aminophylline:
nausea (feeling sick), vomiting or diarrhoea
heartburn or other abdominal pain
rashes or skin redness or itching
nervousness, restlessness, anxiety or irritability
tremor
headache or fever
dizziness or faintness, especially when standing up.
These side effects are usually mild.
Tell your doctor or nurse immediately if you notice any of the following:
irregular or fast heartbeat
rapid breathing
changes in the amount of urine produced by your body
convulsions (fits).
These may be more serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. Serious
side effects are rare.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
After being given DBL Aminophylline Injection
Storage
DBL Aminophylline Injection will be stored in the pharmacy or on the ward. The injection
is kept in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C, and it is protected
from light.
Product description
What it looks like
DBL Aminophylline Injection is a clear, colorless solution.
Ingredients
DBL Aminophylline Injection contains aminophylline (theophylline and ethylenediamine)
and water for injection. The 10 mL ampoule contains 250 milligrams of aminophylline.
DBL Aminophylline Injection does not contain gluten, lactose, sucrose, tartrazine
or any other azo dyes.
Supplier / Sponsor
Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd
Sydney NSW
Toll Free Number: 1800 675 229
www.pfizer.com.au
DBL Aminophylline Injection is available in the following strength:
250 mg /10 mL AUST R 16355
This leaflet was updated in March 2021.