Aminophylline is a bronchodilator. Aminophylline works in several ways: it relaxes muscles in your lungs and chest to allow more air in, decreases the sensitivity of your lungs to allergens and other substances that cause inflammation, and increases the contractions of your diaphragm to draw more air into the lungs.

Aminophylline is used to treat the symptoms of asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema.

Aminophylline may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Do not crush or chew any extended-release formulation of aminophylline. Swallow the medication whole. It is specially formulated to release slowly in your body. If you do not know whether your medication is an extended-release formulation, ask your pharmacist.

Call your doctor right away if you experience nausea, vomiting, insomnia, restlessness, seizures, increased heart rate, or a headache. These could be signs of too much aminophylline in your blood.

Do not start or stop smoking without your doctor's knowledge. Smoking may affect your dosage.

Do not take more of this medication than is prescribed without consulting your doctor. Seek medical attention if you are having increasing difficulty breathing.

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have

• a stomach ulcer;

• seizures or epilepsy;

• high blood pressure, a heart condition, or any type of heart disease;

• fluid in your lungs;

• a thyroid condition;

• liver disease; or

• kidney disease.

You may not be able to take aminophylline, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Aminophylline is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether aminophylline will harm an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.

Aminophylline passes into breast milk and could affect a nursing baby. Do not take aminophylline without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

If you are over 60 years of age, you may be more likely to experience side effects from aminophylline. You may require a lower dose of this medication.