Low Dose Theophylline and Tiotropium Rotacap as Add on Therapy in COPD Patients-Clinical Trial

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the role of low dose Theophylline and Tiotropium rotacap in improving the lung functions and day to day life of patients suffering from COPD. Study Design and Setting: A Clinical trial study was conducted at Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, BMSI in association with Department of Chest Medicine, JPMC. Methodology: This study was planned as an open label and parallel clinical trial study. A total of 168 patients of COPD were selected for this study and only 161 patients completed the 3 months duration of the study. The enrolled patients were grouped into 2, namely A and B. Tab. Theophylline 350 mg was given to Group A in two divided doses while Tiotropium rotacap18µg through rotahaler was given to group B once a day. Results: Mean FEV1 ± SD was improved by 0.04 ± 0.02 in Theophylline therapy group while by 0.07 ± 0.01 in the Tiotropium therapy treated group and a significant difference between the changes in the two treatment groups was evident. There was a percentage improvement in PEFR of 8.9 ± 5.8 in the Theophylline therapy treated group and of 13.2 ± 4.7 in Tiotropium therapy treated group. When Tiotropium group was compared with Theophylline group for improvement in percentage change in PEFR from day 0, a significant difference was evident between the two groups. There was a significant improvement from day 0 in CAT score in Tiotropium treated groups versus Theophylline group after 3 months of therapy. Conclusion: Tiotropium rotacap was more effective as compared to low dose Theophylline in improving pulmonary functions and CAT score in patients with COPD

Physicians' Knowledge of Theophylline Use: A Cross-Sectional Study from Jordan

“…Theophylline exerts its bronchodilatory effect by competitively inhibiting type III and type IV phosphodiesterase (PDE) enzymes (1,4). It also has antiinflammatory action by inhibiting PDE4 and activating histone deacetylase-2 (1,4).…”