theophylline for centrals

Just had an appointment with my sleep Dr. and he wrote me a prescription for theophylline. I haven't heard of it before and wondered if anyone else had used it, and what the effects were. The usual Google search showed it as a brochildialator for asthma and COPD, but not any mention of adult sleep disordered breathing. I am showing both partial breathing and centrals in my daily results with encore viewer.

detcord wrote:Just had an appointment with my sleep Dr. and he wrote me a prescription for theophylline. I haven't heard of it before and wondered if anyone else had used it, and what the effects were. The usual Google search showed it as a brochildialator for asthma and COPD, but not any mention of adult sleep disordered breathing. I am showing both partial breathing and centrals in my daily results with encore viewer.

I was on it for quite a while. My understanding is that the use of theophylline to treat airway diseases has been deprecated, but I am not a medical doctor so anything I say should take that into account. It may be correct that theophylline acts on the sympathetic nervous system. In addition to improving lung function, it also can increase heart rate.

In my experience it doesn't promote sleep, but it may, in fact, stimulate you to breathe more reliably, which may be what your doctor is after, if you are having central hypopneas (I assume that's what you mean by partial breathing) and central apneas.

Unless it interferes with your heart rate such that you notice it (palpitations), it probably will not interfere with sleep, but it certainly won't make you sleepy, and for that, you might find it helpful during the day, as well.

Let us know what your experience with it is.

He explained to me that it would help reduce the centrals and period breathing. I'll have to pay close attention to my pulse rate. We'll see if it works.

detcord wrote:He explained to me that it would help reduce the centrals and period breathing. I'll have to pay close attention to my pulse rate. We'll see if it works.

I perhaps should not have mentioned the heart thing. If I were you, I would NOT pay close attention to your pulse rate. First of all, if theophylline causes you a problem, you'll KNOW it without having to check your pulse. Secondly, by checking your pulse, you may be creating anxiety where none is needed, and the power of suggestion may be enough to make you think you are having an increased pulse and therefore trouble sleeping. Don't go there.

Furthermore, even if theophylline causes tachycardia, it may not be a serious problem. I would encourage you to discuss it with your doctor if you have an episode of tachycardia, but don't go looking for trouble.

Forget about your pulse. It isn't important to monitor that when on theophylline.

It's been around a long time and probably millions of people have used it, mostly for respiratory problems.

Don't worry, I'm not the sort to go around inventing symptoms to worry about. I had just not heard of this in any of my research into sleep apnea, and not much on the use of theophylline in sleep apnea. Good info to know. We'll see...

make sure you arent allergic to it.

Mid '80s after several bouts of bronchitis, doc said I had asthma & started me on the "T"...breathed deeper and faster. Worked well while my lungs/breathing healed, then graduated to inhaler before lap swimming. Did that for several yrs until lungs fully healed & bronchitis disappeared from my life. Good luck!

I was on it for quite awhile for allergies and asthma. I can't remember really why at this point, but I took myself off of it... something was irritating me.

If you want theophylline, just eat dark chocolate!

Don't like chocolate.