Prednisone and Theophylline interaction
Prednisone and Theophylline: the Theophylline prescribing label describe an interaction that usually calls for monitoring, a dose change, or spacing the doses.
Usually manageable with monitoring or a dose change. Tell your pharmacist you take both.
What the FDA labels say
From the Theophylline label · effective 2026-01-29
Dosage Increases: Increases in the dose of theophylline should not be made in response to an acute exacerbation of symptoms of chronic lung disease since theophylline provides little added benefit to inhaled beta2 -selective agonists and systemically administered corticosteroids in this circumstance and increases the risk of adverse effects.
…azithromycin nadolol caffeine, dietary ingestion nifedipine cefaclor nizatidine co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) norfloxacin ofloxacin diltiazem omeprazole dirithromycin prednisone, prednisolone enflurane ranitidine famotidine rifabutin felodipine roxithromycin finasteride Sorbitol (purgative doses do not inhibit hydrocortisone theophylline absorption)…
Taking more than these two? Interactions stack. Check your whole list at once; it stays in your browser.
Open in the checkerNot medical advice. Interaction Checker quotes FDA label text and NIH fact sheets. Whether an interaction matters for you depends on doses, timing, kidney and liver function, and other conditions. Confirm with a pharmacist or prescriber.