What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Epinephrine and theophylline
Epinephrine's FDA label of July 13, 2026 names theophylline in its drug interactions section; the theophylline label PlainMeds reads does not name epinephrine. The epinephrine label: “… hypokalemic effects of epinephrine Potassium depleting diuretics Corticosteroids Theophylline Epinephrine should not be used to counteract circulatory collapse or hypotension caused by phenothiazines, as a reversal of …”
Check it at the source: the epinephrine FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 13, 2026, A-S Medication Solutions); the theophylline FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 10, 2026, Strides Pharma Science Limited).
What does the epinephrine label say about theophylline?
Epinephrine label, drug interactionsObserve for development of cardiac arrhythmias. ( 7 .3) Potassium-depleting drugs, including corticosteroids, diuretics, and theophylline, potentiate the hypokalemic effects of epinephrine. ( 7 .4)
Epinephrine label (BPI Labs, LLC, December 26, 2025), drug interactions… hydrocarbon anesthetics, such as halothane Antihistamines Thyroid hormones Diuretics Cardiac glycosides, such as digitalis glycosides Quinidine Drugs potentiating hypokalemic effects of epinephrine Potassium depleting diuretics Corticosteroids Theophylline Epinephrine should not be used to counteract circulatory collapse or hypotension caused by phenothiazines, as a reversal of the pressor effects of epinephrine may result in further lowering of blood pressure.
Source: FDA drug label (Adrenalin (Epinephrine In Sodium Chloride), NDA215875), Par Health USA, LLC, effective August 1, 2023 (SPL set 61b0e2a2-71ed-43d6-b1a7-36d2dae651b5), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Epinephrine, NDA205029), BPI Labs, LLC, effective December 26, 2025 (SPL set db18519b-82a9-435b-85c7-a040d644f057), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Epinephrine), A-S Medication Solutions, effective July 13, 2026 (SPL set 6e811e28-0199-4df7-a916-5940c632401d), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the theophylline label say about epinephrine?
Theophylline's label (effective March 10, 2026) does not name epinephrine in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (Theophylline), Strides Pharma Science Limited, effective March 10, 2026 (SPL set b7a90ccf-9c32-40cc-9008-7e55b3da4dfd), 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
| Epinephrine | Theophylline | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Asthma | Asthma |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $123.51 per unit 0.15 mg auto-injct | $0.330 per tablet 300 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No 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?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once