cannabidiol vs theophylline
PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.
Side-by-side comparison of cannabidiol and theophylline. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
Increases in exposure of certain CYP1A2 substrates (e.g., theophylline, tizanidine) may be observed when concomitantly used with EPIDIOLEX.
Epidiolex
Theo-24, Elixophyllin
Epidiolex is a medicine that contains cannabidiol. It is used to treat seizures in people with certain conditions.
Theophylline is a medicine that helps you breathe easier. It treats the symptoms of asthma and other lung problems.
Epidiolex is used to treat seizures linked to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), Dravet syndrome (DS), or tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). It is for patients who are at least 1 year old. These conditions can cause seizures that are hard to control.
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.
Epidiolex contains cannabidiol, which is a substance that may affect how the brain works. It is thought to reduce seizures by acting on certain brain chemicals. The exact way it works is not fully understood.
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.
- • Feeling sleepy
- • Decreased appetite
- • Diarrhea
- • Changes in liver blood tests
- • Feeling tired or weak
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Headache
- • Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- Seizure 5,791
- Hospitalisation 2,073
- Diarrhoea 1,695
- Somnolence 1,242
- Death 1,204
- Dyspnoea 2,273
- Asthma 1,942
- Pneumonia 1,318
- Wheezing 1,306
- Vomiting 1,101
Epidiolex can cause liver problems. Your doctor will check your liver before you start and during treatment. Tell your doctor right away if you feel very tired, have yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or loss of appetite. Epidiolex may also cause sleepiness or suicidal thoughts. Tell your doctor if you have any changes in mood or behavior.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Epidiolex may harm your unborn baby. There are pregnancy programs to monitor outcomes, so talk to your doctor about enrolling. It is not known if Epidiolex passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you are 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.
How to Read This cannabidiol vs theophylline Comparison
cannabidiol is classified in the Cannabinoid (Anticonvulsant) 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, cannabidiol has 12,005 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 minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to cannabidiol slows down the liver enzyme that breaks down theophylline, which can lead to higher amounts of the drug in your system.. 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 cannabidiol or theophylline.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.