Theophylline Discontinued (Top voted first)

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I have been told that theophylline er is being discontinued. Is this true? I have taken it for years for asthma.

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6

So sorry- I wrote in ERROR tumors and meant rumors! Hope I didn't scare anyone!!!!

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153

I'm the author of Post 130 which lists who's still making what (and who's not making it).

Theophylline ER is available - but you may have to look, including in places you usually don't.

I previously posted I get 400 mg pills for my cat, who's on 100 mg daily for asthma. Ten pills costs me roughly $23. I get them from a pharmacy I don't really like, but the chain pharmacies in my town rarely have Theophylline. So I go to a local compounding one. They either don't cut pills or charge $10 to do so, so I take my cat's pills to his vet who quarters them for us.

My point: If your usual source is out, get creative. Companies are still making this, especially pills that are 300 mg or 400 mg (or higher). Your usual pharmacy won't switch suppliers or make phone calls? Find a pharmacy that will. Local ones often will do what the chains won't. And it often costs less.

Bottom line: Theophylline has NOT been discontinued. There have been changes. Fewer places make it, at least one because they had safety issues in the manufacturing process. i.e. they were doing unsafe things previously.

Doomsday hysteria may be fun for some, but isn't being proactive about your health or a loved ones far more productive?

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10

From what I've read, it's back ordered due to increased demand. Apparently in recent years they've realized it is good as a cough medicine so there's a greater demand. Probably because of its mucolytic properties.

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3

I too rely on this prescription to breathe. My pharmacy is telling me that 200 mg ER has been discontinued, but 300 and 400 mg doses are still available. They had sketchy info on whether these doses would continue.

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7

Just got my theophylline refilled but name brand, Theo-24, so it was much more expensive. Pharmacist said they can't get any generic strengths, all are on back order. Hope this helps!

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11

I got my 450 mg of Theophylline yesterday!! I already feel so much better! Check with your pharmacies!

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20

I figured it had to do with money. I used to take albuterol tablets, 2 mg. as an addition to my other asthma meds. I have the walgreens perscription plan and would pay maybe $12 bucks for a 3 month supply. It helped keep me off of prednisone. But then, in June 2013, the price skyrocketed to $100 for a month's supply...a very, very old drug, made unaffordable.

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53

This is getting scarier by the day. IVe been out of my reg theoph for a few days now, am taking a different dose and its the 24 hr kind that has other ingredients in it that my body doesn't like (I think the red dye on capsule is giving ne stomach problems. ) I am now supposedly getting an Rx for compound to be liquid but insurance won't cover it and who knows how long the compound supplies will last either . We need to ban together and do something this. There is power in numbers !!

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164

You can also fill prescriptions from Canada if your dr. is willing to hand write you an RX that you can fax to them. It's mailed directly to your house - I have been filling my prescriptions in Canada for 8 years.

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223

We've been getting our Theophylline from IsraelPharm.
You will still need a doctor's Rx.
Excellent service.

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224

The newer versions do not agree with me - some have iodine which interfers with the effectiveness. I have found my solution - I fill my prescriptions from Canada. One of my Canadian brands was just discontinued and I found another - had to tweak the dosage but I'm all set now. Thank God I have US doctors who understand and write the prescriptions I need to get them. I also get my Foradil from Canada.

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4

Hi, so far holding ok without but feel an infection could really set me on my behind! My pulmanologist told my of the discontinuation, but he's also not a fan of theophylline. (He's a new doctor for me so I don't know him well yet.) I hope tumors are not true, it's very difficult to find something that works really well and breathing is not something you want to experiment with. Wish the drug company yes/no guys could live a day or two on our shoes!

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16

I wrote Plivia, who made the theophylline I was taking and Teva CS pharmaceuticals replied stating that unfortunately all strengths of Theophylline ER are temporarily unavailable with no release date at this time. That's all they had to say. So it seems to me if it had been discontinued, that's what they would have stated.

My pharmacy hunted around for me, as I presently use the 200 mg. tablets 2x day, and they found some. I also found 400 mg. tablets at another pharmacy, so got a prescription for that. I'm building a stash and hopefully soon they will make it again.

Pharmacists told me that most people with lung problems have found relief with other drugs but that hasn't been the case for me and it seems like all you who have posted here.

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17

Hi, I work in a pharmacy and I can tell you that Major is the brand that discontinued all of their extended release theophylline. Teva brand has extended release, but they cannot release a date when they will release it or comment on the shortage.

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18

Wow, just found this out trying to refill my 7# min-pin dog's script. She has been on the 100mg 1x per day. Yes, this is a common canine med for congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy. Has taken it 1-100 tab quartered 4x a day. Vets are freaking out, too, as its been an effective medication. My Abby has been on it for nearly 4 years. Costco Pharmacy is working on a compound for me in a liquid form to sub. Feel bad for all you human users of this drug, as it has been a lifesaver for so many of you.

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39

On Dr Oz yesterday, they spoke of a new app for your smartphone called Blink Health. You can enter the drug name, strength and quantity to help find pharmacies who have the medication, and price. For this particular med, I would call first to confirm. This app might make the search easier.

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40

My chocolate lab Henry has been taking 200mg 3x/day for a few months and now this ! My vet won't prescribe anything else and to have it compounded is triple the price. I am so annoyed.

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41

Mine is becoming hard to find. Only got a partial refill of three pills! When will this shortage end??? Can we ban together and go to the government about this ??

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42

Like I stated, I got my 400 mg. tablets easy. Perhaps that won't be the case down the road but my pharmacy, walgreens, talked like it was easy to order. So perhaps you all might try getting those and cutting them, even though pharmacists say you shouldn't cut ER tablets. I took cut ER tablets for a couple years and did fine.

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43

I am also no longer having difficulty. I filled it locally last time, and now it's on mail order from CVS Caremark. I get the 450 mg ER tabs.

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