Generic name
Theophylline: adverse event reports filed with FDA
4,050 reports list it as a suspect or interacting product, 2004–2026. Class: Methylxanthine. Also reported as Theophylline Sustained Release, Theophylline Cr Tablet, Theophylline Cr.
- 4,050
- reports as suspect product
- 0% of all reports · about 180 a year
- 384
- reports, 12 months to June 2026
- 327 in the 12 months before
- 95.3%
- marked serious by the reporter
- 95.3% across the class
- 18.7%
- record death among outcomes, as reported
- 757 reports · not verified by FDA
4,050 adverse event reports received by FDA list theophylline, a generic name as a suspect or interacting product, from January 2004 to June 2026. A further 7,566 reports list it only as a concomitant medication, and those are not counted in the figures on this page.
In the 12 months to June 2026, 384 reports listed it, up 17% from 327 in the 12 months before. FDA releases FAERS data quarterly, so the newest months are incomplete and grow in later releases. Over its reporting history that is about 180 reports a year and 0% of the 20,646,523 reports in the database, and 80% of the reports for the methylxanthine class. How many people take it is not in the data, so a count is not a rate of occurrence.
Reporters most often recorded asthma (35.2%), dyspnoea (32.4%) and wheezing (28.7%). A report can list several reactions, so shares add to more than 100%; 887 different terms appear across these reports. Asthma is recorded in 35.2% of these reports, about the same share as in the median methylxanthine drug (35%).
95.3% of the reports are marked serious by the reporter (95.3% across the class); 18.7% record death among the outcomes and 42.4% record hospitalisation, as reported. 43.1% of the reports came from other health professionals, and the largest patient age group is 65 to 74 (29.4%). FDA states that "a causal relationship cannot be established between product and reactions listed in a report" and that for any given report "there is no certainty that a suspected drug caused the event."
Reports by month, five years
Reports by the month FDA received them. FDA releases FAERS data quarterly, so the newest months are incomplete and grow in later releases.
By year received
2026 covers reports received through June 2026 only.
Reactions recorded in the reports
share of Theophylline reports recording the termmedian drug in methylxanthine
- Asthmaasthma35.2%1,424
- Dyspnoeashortness of breath32.4%1,314
- Wheezingwheezing28.7%1,162
- Vomitingbeing sick23.1%934
- Pneumonialung infection21.3%864
- Drug hypersensitivityan allergic-type reaction to a medicine21.1%854
- Coughcough17.7%717
- Oedemaswelling from fluid16.8%682
- Malaisegeneral feeling of being unwell13.5%545
- Chest painchest pain11.4%463
- Painpain, site not specified11.1%449
- Respiratory tract infectiona respiratory infection9.4%382
- Toxicity to various agentspoisoning or toxic effect of one or more substances7.6%308
- Productive cougha cough with phlegm7.2%292
- Drug ineffectivethe medicine did not work as expected7%284
- Drug interactionan interaction between medicines6.3%254
- Lower respiratory tract infectiona chest infection6.1%249
- Chest discomfortchest discomfort5.9%237
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseCOPD, a long-term lung disease5.8%234
- Nasal oedema5.7%232
- Nauseafeeling sick5.6%227
- Off label useused for a purpose or in a way not on the label5.4%218
- Full blood count abnormal5.3%213
- Obstructive airways disorder5.1%205
- Hypertensionhigh blood pressure4.9%199
- Pyrexiafever4.8%194
- Atrial fibrillationan irregular heart rhythm4.6%185
Top 30 of 887 MedDRA preferred terms recorded across these reports, with a plain-language gloss where one is available. One report can record several terms. The hollow bar is the median share across the 2 drugs in the methylxanthine class; it describes the reports, not the patients. FDA states that adverse event reports "represent a small percentage of total usage numbers of a product", that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product", and that the data "by themselves are not an indicator of the safety profile of the drug or biologic."
Outcomes recorded
Outcome flags as the reporter set them; a report can carry several, and "other serious" is FDA's own category for serious reports outside the named outcomes. Grey bar: all 5,061 reports in the class. FDA has not verified any outcome and states that the reports "cannot be used to estimate the incidence of these events."
Patients and reporters
Patient age
Patient sex
Who reported
Age and sex as stated in the report; the reporter's qualification is the primary source recorded by FDA. 18% of reports give the United States as the country of the event or reporter.
Reason for use recorded
| Indication as recorded (MedDRA) | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Asthma | 462 | 11.4% |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 252 | 6.2% |
| Depression | 52 | 1.3% |
| Bronchospasm | 28 | 0.7% |
| Off label use | 28 | 0.7% |
| Bronchitis chronic | 21 | 0.5% |
The indication field is filled in by the reporter and is often blank; shares are of all 4,050 reports.
Drugs most often listed in the same reports
| Drug (any role in the report) | Reports | Share of Theophylline reports |
|---|---|---|
| Prednisone | 1,408 | 34.8% |
| Singulair | 879 | 21.7% |
| Advair Hfa | 818 | 20.2% |
| Aspirin | 788 | 19.5% |
| Ergocalciferol | 781 | 19.3% |
| Clonazepam | 722 | 17.8% |
| Omalizumab | 656 | 16.2% |
| Risedronate sodium | 652 | 16.1% |
| Rituximab | 650 | 16% |
| Tramadol hydrochloride | 595 | 14.7% |
Other products listed in reports where Theophylline is a suspect product, whatever their own role. Co-listing means the two were recorded together; it says nothing about either product's part in the event. Only the 2,500 most-reported names are counted here.
In context
| Measure | Theophylline | Methylxanthine | All reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reports as suspect product | 4,050 | 5,061 | 20,646,523 |
| Share of that pool | — | 80% | 0% |
| Reports, latest 12 months | 384 | — | 1,332,454 |
| Marked serious | 95.3% | 95.3% | 57.4% |
| Death recorded among outcomes, per 1,000 reports | 187 | 170 | 91 |
| Hospitalisation recorded, per 1,000 reports | 424 | 428 | 213 |
| Consumer-filed share | 18.7% | 18.7% | 45.8% |
| Top term, share of reports | Asthma 35.2% | median 35% | 0.5% |
Shares are of reports, not of patients treated. The number of people taking a product is not in the data, so none of these figures is a rate, and differences between columns reflect who takes a product, who reports and how long it has been sold. FDA states that adverse event reports "represent a small percentage of total usage numbers of a product", that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product", and that the data "by themselves are not an indicator of the safety profile of the drug or biologic."
Other drugs in the methylxanthine class
| Drug | Name type | Reports | Latest 12 months | Marked serious |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aminophylline | generic | 1,011 | 159 | 95.5% |
Ordered by report count for navigation only. FDA states that adverse event reports "represent a small percentage of total usage numbers of a product", that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product", and that the data "by themselves are not an indicator of the safety profile of the drug or biologic." A brand and its generic are separate rows because reporters name them separately.
Questions about Theophylline reports
How many adverse event reports has FDA received for Theophylline?
4,050 reports list Theophylline as a suspect or interacting product in the openFDA FAERS release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through June 2026. 384 of them arrived in the latest 12 months. Another 7,566 list it only as a concomitant medication.
What reactions are recorded in Theophylline reports?
asthma (35.2%), dyspnoea (32.4%), wheezing (28.7%), vomiting (23.1%) and pneumonia (21.3%). These are MedDRA preferred terms coded from what the reporter described; a report can list several, and a term's presence is not a finding that Theophylline was responsible.
How serious are the reports?
95.3% are marked serious by the reporter. Among the outcomes recorded, 18.7% of reports include death and 42.4% include hospitalisation. FDA has not verified these outcomes and states that the reports "cannot be used to estimate the incidence" of the events.
Who files these reports?
other health professional (43.1%), physician (26.8%) and consumer or non-health professional (18.7%). Most reports reach FDA through the manufacturer, which must forward reports it receives.
Are reports for Theophylline rising?
384 reports in the 12 months to June 2026, up 17% from 327 in the 12 months before. FDA releases FAERS data quarterly, so the newest months are incomplete and grow in later releases. Counts also move with how many people take a product, its time on the market and publicity.
Do these reports show that Theophylline was responsible for these reactions?
No. FDA states that "a causal relationship cannot be established between product and reactions listed in a report" and that for any given report "there is no certainty that a suspected drug caused the event." The reaction may relate to the condition being treated, to other medicines, or to something else.
Is this a list of the side effects of Theophylline?
No. It is a count of what was reported to FDA. The adverse reactions observed in clinical studies are printed on the FDA-approved label, which a pharmacist or clinician can go through with you.
How do I report an adverse event?
Consumers and health professionals can report to FDA through MedWatch (Form FDA 3500 online, or 1-800-FDA-1088), or to the manufacturer, which must pass reports on. See the guide on how to report.
Where this comes from. Counts are built from the openFDA Drug Adverse Event (FAERS) bulk export released 28 Sep 2026, which holds reports FDA received through 30 Jun 2026. Drug names are as reported, resolved to the brand or generic name on the FDA label where openFDA's harmonisation matched them; classes are the pharmacologic class (EPC) from the label and the National Drug Code Directory of 17 Sep 2026. A report counts here when it lists Theophylline as a suspect or interacting product; reports listing it only as a concomitant medication (7,566) are excluded. No report narrative, lot number, patient detail or reporter identity is published. See the methodology and sources; FDA's record is authoritative, and corrections are handled within five working days.
Drug data (FAERS) through 30 Jun 2026; device data (MAUDE) through 31 Aug 2026. Not medical advice.