azithromycin vs theophylline
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Side-by-side comparison of azithromycin and theophylline. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
major Known Drug Interaction
albuterol, systemic and inhaled mebendazole amoxicillin medroxyprogesterone ampicillin, with or without sulbactam methylprednisolone atenolol metronidazole azithromycin metoprolol caffeine, dietary ingestion nadolol cefaclor nifedipine co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) nizatidine diltiazem norfloxacin dirithromycin ofloxacin enflurane omeprazole famotidine prednisone, prednisolone felodipine ranitidine finasteride rifabutin hydrocortisone roxithromycin isoflurane Sorbitol (purgative doses do not inhibit theophylline absorption) isoniazid sucralfate isradipine terbutaline,...
Zithromax, Z-Pack
Theo-24, Elixophyllin
Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria. It is used to treat many different types of infections.
Theophylline is a medicine that helps you breathe easier. It treats the symptoms of asthma and other lung problems.
Azithromycin treats mild to moderate infections caused by certain bacteria. In adults, it can treat bronchitis, sinus infections, skin infections, urethritis, cervicitis, and genital ulcers. In children over 6 months old, it can treat ear infections and pneumonia. It can also treat pharyngitis/tonsillitis in children 2 years and older.
Theophylline treats the symptoms of long-term asthma and other lung diseases. These include emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which make it hard to breathe. This medicine helps to open up your airways so you can breathe easier.
Azithromycin belongs to a class of drugs called macrolide antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This helps your body fight off the infection.
Theophylline is a bronchodilator. It works by relaxing the muscles in your airways. This allows more air to flow in and out of your lungs.
- • Diarrhea (5-14%)
- • Nausea (3-18%)
- • Abdominal pain (3-7%)
- • Vomiting (2-7%)
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Headache
- • Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- Dyspnoea 3,059
- Nausea 2,232
- Pain 2,205
- Pneumonia 2,085
- Cough 2,031
- Dyspnoea 2,273
- Asthma 1,942
- Pneumonia 1,318
- Wheezing 1,306
- Vomiting 1,101
This drug can cause serious allergic reactions, liver problems, and heart rhythm changes. Tell your doctor right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction, like rash or swelling. Also, tell your doctor if you have liver problems, heart problems, or muscle weakness.
If your theophylline levels get too high in your blood, it can cause serious side effects. These include severe vomiting, irregular heartbeats, and seizures. These can be life-threatening.
Studies haven't shown major risks to the baby during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before taking this medicine.
It is not known if theophylline can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if theophylline passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
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How to Read This azithromycin vs theophylline Comparison
azithromycin is classified in the Macrolide Antibiotic drug class, while theophylline sits within the Methylxanthine Bronchodilator class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, azithromycin has 11,612 submissions while theophylline has 7,940. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known major interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to azithromycin does not significantly change the levels of theophylline in your body.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for azithromycin or theophylline.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.