Doxofylline is not just another theophylline!
Article Details
- CitationCopy to clipboard
Matera MG, Page C, Cazzola M
Doxofylline is not just another theophylline!
Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2017 Dec 5;12:3487-3493. doi: 10.2147/COPD.S150887. eCollection 2017.
- PubMed ID
- 29255355 [ View in PubMed]
- Abstract
Doxofylline, which differs from theophylline in containing the dioxalane group at position 7, has comparable efficacy to theophylline in the treatment of respiratory diseases, but with an improved tolerability profile and a favorable risk-to-benefit ratio. Furthermore, it does not have significant drug-drug interactions as exhibited with theophylline, which make using theophylline more challenging, especially in elderly patients with co-morbidities receiving multiple classes of drug. It is now clear that doxofylline also possesses a distinct pharmacological profile from theophylline (no significant effect on any of the known phosphodiesterase isoforms, no significant adenosine receptor antagonism, no direct effect on histone deacetylases, interaction with beta2-adrenoceptors) and therefore, should not be considered as just a modified theophylline. Randomized clinical trials of doxofylline to investigate the use of this drug to reduce exacerbations and hospitalizations due to asthma or COPD as an alternative to expensive biologics, and certainly as an alternative to theophylline are to be encouraged.