prednisolone vs theophylline
Side-by-side comparison of prednisolone 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 doctor may need to adjust your theophylline dose when you start or stop this steroid. Report any new or worsening side effects to your healthcare provider.
Orapred, Pediapred
Theo-24, Elixophyllin
Prednisolone eye drops reduce inflammation in your eye. It is a type of steroid medicine.
Theophylline is a medicine that helps you breathe easier. It treats the symptoms of asthma and other lung problems.
This medicine treats swelling and redness in your eye. It can help with problems of the conjunctiva, cornea, and other parts of the front of your eye. It is used when the swelling responds to steroid treatment.
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.
Prednisolone is a corticosteroid. It works by reducing inflammation in the eye. This helps to relieve redness, swelling, and pain.
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.
- • Eye pain
- • Feeling like something is in your eye
- • Headache
- • Itching
- • Rash
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Headache
- • Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- Fever 8,198
- Difficulty breathing 6,809
- Lung infection 6,760
- Loose or watery stools 6,510
- Condition is getting worse 5,689
- Difficulty breathing 2,273
- Asthma 1,942
- Pneumonia 1,317
- Wheezing 1,306
- Vomiting 1,101
Using steroid eye drops for a long time may cause glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye) or cataracts. It can also make it harder for your eye to heal if you have an injury. Tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 2 days.
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. It is not known if prednisolone eye drops will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits.
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 prednisolone vs theophylline Comparison
prednisolone 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 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, prednisolone has 33,966 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 taking these two drugs together can change how quickly your body gets rid of theophylline. this may cause the amount of medicine in your blood to go up or down.. 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 prednisolone 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.