hydrocortisone vs theophylline
Side-by-side comparison of hydrocortisone 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,...
Recommendation: Your healthcare provider should check your blood levels of theophylline regularly. They may need to change your dose to keep the medicine at a safe and helpful level.
Cortef
Theo-24, Elixophyllin
Hydrocortisone cream helps relieve itching and skin problems. It belongs to a class of drugs called corticosteroids.
Theophylline is a medicine that helps you breathe easier. It treats the symptoms of asthma and other lung problems.
This medicine can help with itching, skin irritation, inflammation, and rashes. It can treat eczema, psoriasis, poison ivy, insect bites, and other irritations from soaps or jewelry. It can also relieve external anal and genital itching. Ask your doctor before using it for other conditions.
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.
Hydrocortisone reduces inflammation, itching, and redness. It works by reducing the activity of the immune system. This helps to relieve discomfort.
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.
- • Rash
- • Itching
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Headache
- • Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- Feeling tired 8,852
- Pain 7,126
- Condition got worse 6,709
- Feeling sick to your stomach 6,687
- Joint pain 6,666
- Difficulty breathing 2,273
- Asthma 1,942
- Pneumonia 1,317
- Wheezing 1,306
- Vomiting 1,101
No specific warnings noted.
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 breastfeeding before using this medicine. It is not known if hydrocortisone can harm an unborn baby or pass into breast milk.
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 hydrocortisone vs theophylline Comparison
hydrocortisone is classified in the Corticosteroid 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 split between OTC and prescription status, which affects access and supervision.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, hydrocortisone has 36,040 submissions while theophylline has 7,939. 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 hydrocortisone can interfere with how your body handles theophylline. this can result in theophylline levels becoming too high or too low to work properly.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between hydrocortisone and theophylline - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.