Unicontin 400mg Tablet

✔️ Unicontin is used for:

• Managing acute asthma attacks.
• Long-term treatment of chronic asthma (both symptomatic relief and prevention).
• Controlling nighttime asthma and early morning wheezing.
• Treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, as well as acute COPD exacerbations.
• Managing apnea in premature infants.
  Take this medication as per the advice of a registered physician.

✔️ Dosage & Administration

The dose of Theophylline should be personalized based on peak serum concentration to maximize benefits while minimizing side effects. Most sustained-release formulations are taken every 12 hours in adults, though some children may require dosing every 8 hours due to rapid metabolism. Recommended maintenance doses:

• 16 years or older: 10 mg/kg/day (maximum 900 mg/day)
• 12-15 years: 13 mg/kg/day
• 9-11 years: 16 mg/kg/day
• 1-8 years: 24 mg/kg/day
• 6 months-1 year: 12-18 mg/kg/day
• 1-6 months: 10 mg/kg/day
  Take this medication as per the advice of a registered physician.

Pediatric Use: Neonates have a significantly reduced ability to clear Theophylline, requiring careful dose selection and monitoring.

✔️ Drug Interactions:

• Avoid concurrent use with other xanthine derivatives.
• Increased clearance (may require a higher dose): Barbiturates, carbamazepine, lithium, phenytoin, rifampicin, and sulphinpyrazone.
• Decreased clearance (may require a lower dose): Allopurinol, cimetidine, ciprofloxacin, corticosteroids, erythromycin, frusemide, isoprenaline, oral contraceptives, and thiabendazole.
• Theophylline may worsen hypokalemia when used with beta-2 agonists, steroids, diuretics, or in hypoxic conditions, requiring potassium level monitoring.

✔️ Contraindications:

• Hypersensitivity to Theophylline or any component of the medication.

✔️ Side effects are rare at normal doses but may include:

• Gastrointestinal discomfort
• Headache
• Nausea
• Insomnia
• Hypotension
• Central nervous system stimulation and increased urination, especially in children.

✔️ Pregnancy & Lactation:

• Theophylline’s effects on fetal health are not well established, so it should only be used during pregnancy if necessary.
• Theophylline is excreted in breast milk and may cause mild irritability or toxicity in infants. Serious effects are unlikely unless the mother has toxic Theophylline levels.

✔️ Precautions & Warnings:

• Consider potential drug interactions and physiological conditions that may affect Theophylline clearance.
• Adjust dosage carefully before starting Unicontin, before increasing the dose, and during follow-up.
• Begin with a low dose and gradually increase if tolerated.

✔️ Storage Conditions:

Store in a cool, dry place, away from light. Keep out of reach of children.