Brands of theophylline currently in use include:

Not all brands of theophylline enter the bloodstream at the same rate. Patients should be sure to take the same brand or generic form, and the same formulation for each treatment. 

Theophylline is available in pill, liquid or injectable form. Each dose should be taken at the same time of day to ensure that the drug remains at a consistent concentration in the bloodstream. The medication should be taken with a full glass of water. Taking the medication with food may decrease the chances of an upset stomach. Some formulations may be sprinkled over soft foods such as applesauce and then consumed. However, other forms of the drug should be taken on an empty stomach, either one hour before eating or two hours after a meal.

It is crucial that patients take exactly the prescribed dose of theophylline. For this reason, those who take the medication in liquid form should not use tableware spoons to measure their doses. A measuring spoon or cup should come with the medication. If not, patients can ask a pharmacist for an effective measure. Theophylline also is available in extended-release pill form, which should not be chewed or crushed.

In rare cases, theophylline may be used in combination with other drugs. For example, theophylline, ephedrine and phenobarbital can be combined to treat symptoms of allergic asthma (inflammation of the lung's airways that is caused by an allergic reaction), asthmatic bronchitis (a respiratory condition characterized by a chronic cough, wheezing and airflow obstruction in people with asthma) and other lung disorders. The combination helps force open the air passages and increases the flow of air through the bronchial tubes, two large air passageways that lead from the windpipe into the lungs. These combinations are rarely used because they usually have too little theophylline to be effective and can be sedating.