ระดับยา Theophylline ของผู้ป่วย Asthma และ COPD ในโรงพยาบาลสมเด็จพระสังฆราชองค์ที่ 17

บทคัดย่อ

          Theophylline has been widely used as a bronchodilator in asthamtic and COPD patients for more than 50 years. Unfortunately due to its relatively non specific pharmacologic actions, the drug has narrow therapeutic index. The drug level above the therapeutic range (10-20 mcg/ml) may cause toxic effects and level lower than this range has little therapeutic effects. In this cross sectional study we measured theophylline level in asthmatic and COPD patients admited in Somdejprasangkharaj 17^th  Hospital, Suphanburi Province from June 1 - August 31, 2004. The study found that nearly 50% of the drug levels were not in the therapeutic range. About 30% of the drug levels were in toxic range and some patient has toxic effects or annoying side effects. Therefore theophylline level should be monitor regulary along with clinical follow up and whenever there is clinically suspected of toxicities or ineffectiveness.