What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Nicotine and theophylline
Nicotine's FDA label of July 25, 2024 names theophylline in its drug interactions (prescription label) section; the theophylline label PlainMeds reads does not name nicotine. The nicotine label: “May Require a Decrease in Dose at Cessation of Smoking: Acetaminophen, caffeine, imipramine, oxazepam, pentazocine, propranolol, or other beta-blockers, theophylline; …”
Check it at the source: the nicotine FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 25, 2024, Dr. Reddys Laboratories Inc.); the theophylline FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 10, 2026, Strides Pharma Science Limited).
What does the nicotine label say about theophylline?
Nicotine label, drug interactions (prescription label)May Require a Decrease in Dose at Cessation of Smoking: Acetaminophen, caffeine, imipramine, oxazepam, pentazocine, propranolol, or other beta-blockers, theophylline; Possible Mechanism: Deinduction of hepatic enzymes on smoking cessation.
Source: FDA drug label (Nicotine transdermal system), Dr. Reddys Laboratories Inc., effective July 25, 2024 (SPL set e2391b29-9bac-fc09-f2a5-a3370bc4e2c3), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the theophylline label say about nicotine?
Theophylline's label (effective March 10, 2026) does not name nicotine 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
| Nicotine | Theophylline | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Quitting smoking | Asthma |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $1.87 per patch 21 mg/24hr patch | $0.330 per tablet 300 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | No current entry | 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