Epinephrine and Theophylline Interaction
Drug interaction information between Epinephrine and Theophylline.
Epinephrine and Theophylline have a documented minor interaction in FDA labeling.
FDA drug labeling documents a minor-severity interaction between Epinephrine and Theophylline. This page displays the available source-record category and label text. The category is not an individual risk estimate or medication-combination direction.
How They Interact
Both drugs can lower the amount of potassium in your blood. Taking them together makes this effect stronger, which could lead to dangerously low potassium levels.
FDA Label Information
( 7 .3) Potassium-depleting drugs, including corticosteroids, diuretics, and theophylline, potentiate the hypokalemic effects of epinephrine. • β-blockers, such as propranolol • Cyclopropane or halogenated hydrocarbon anesthetics, such as halothane • Antihistamines • Thyroid hormones • Diuretics • Cardiac glycosides, such as digitalis glycosides • Quinidine 7.4 Drugs Potentiating Hypokalemic Effects of Epinephrine • Potassium depleting diuretics • Corticosteroids • Theophylline
Epinephrine Also Interacts With
- Tranylcypromine major
- Carbidopa/Levodopa moderate
- Digoxin moderate
- Imipramine moderate
- Levothyroxine minor
Theophylline Also Interacts With
- Metoprolol major
- Albuterol major
- Omeprazole major
- Amoxicillin major
- Famotidine major
Frequently Asked Questions
What SPL severity band is on file for Epinephrine + Theophylline?
Compiled FDA labeling labels this pair minor. That is a source-record field, not an individual medication-combination decision.
Which drug in this pair has the larger labeled-interaction portfolio?
Theophylline has 86 labeled pairs on file vs Epinephrine's 28. In the minor band specifically: Epinephrine has 24 (also Levothyroxine, Clonidine, Oxytocin, Amitriptyline); Theophylline has 54 (also Propranolol, Methotrexate, Diazepam, Lithium).
What mechanism field is on file for Epinephrine and Theophylline?
Both drugs can lower the amount of potassium in your blood. Taking them together makes this effect stronger, which could lead to dangerously low potassium levels.
Theophylline carries more major-labeled pairs than Epinephrine
SPL source-record counts only. This page's band is minor · classes on file: Epinephrine (Adrenergic Agonist); Theophylline (Methylxanthine Bronchodilator).
Theophylline has 27 major-labeled pairs vs Epinephrine's 1. This page itself is in the minor band, not the major band.
1 major · 3 moderate · 24 minor · 28 total
- Other minor peers for Epinephrine
- Levothyroxine
- Clonidine
- Oxytocin
- Amitriptyline
27 major · 5 moderate · 54 minor · 86 total
- Other minor peers for Theophylline
- Propranolol
- Methotrexate
- Diazepam
- Lithium
Sources: FDA Drug Labels (SPL) via openFDA (2026). This is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. This registry does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.