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What the FDA labels say about taking them together

Aminophylline and cimetidine

Aminophylline's FDA label of May 22, 2026 names cimetidine in its drug interactions section; the cimetidine label PlainMeds reads does not name aminophylline. The aminophylline label: “Drug: Cimetidine; Type Of Interaction: Decreases theophylline clearance by inhibiting cytochrome P450 1A2.; Effect**: 70% increase”

Check it at the source: the aminophylline FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 22, 2026, Hospira, Inc.); the cimetidine FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 15, 2026, Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.).

What does the aminophylline label say about cimetidine?

Aminophylline label, drug interactions

Drug: Cimetidine; Type Of Interaction: Decreases theophylline clearance by inhibiting cytochrome P450 1A2.; Effect**: 70% increase

Aminophylline label, warnings

Age Neonates (term and premature) Children <1 year Elderly (>60 years) Concurrent Diseases Acute pulmonary edema Congestive heart failure Cor pulmonale Fever; ≥102° for 24 hours or more; or lesser temperature elevations for longer periods Hypothyroidism Liver disease; cirrhosis, acute hepatitis Reduced renal function in infants <3 months of age Sepsis with multi-organ failure Shock Cessation of Smoking Drug Interactions Adding a drug that inhibits theophylline metabolism (e.g., cimetidine, erythromycin, tacrine) or stopping a concurrently administered drug that enhances theophylline metabolism (e.g., carbamazepine, rifampin) (see PRECAUTIONS , Drug Interactions, Table II ).

Source: FDA drug label (Aminophylline), Hospira, Inc., effective May 22, 2026 (SPL set 9a663ef3-881f-48bd-2689-3713b24545c2), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed

What does the cimetidine label say about aminophylline?

Cimetidine's label (effective July 15, 2026) does not name aminophylline in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.

Source: FDA drug label (Cimetidine), Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective July 15, 2026 (SPL set 06c0a509-026f-44e0-9975-a94a8de51d43), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed

These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.

Both medicines on the record

5Aminophylline generic labelers
18Cimetidine generic labelers
AminophyllineCimetidine
Labeled forAsthmaAcid reflux and ulcers
Boxed warningNoNo
Pharmacy cost (NADAC)n/a$0.236 per tablet 300 mg tablet
Shortage nowNo current entryNo current entry

Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)

What next?