Theophylline is a drug that can be used for treating both cardiac and respiratory disorders in cats. If you decide to use this medication as a treatment for your asthmatic cat, you will first have to go to a veterinarian, as Theophylline can only be purchased with a prescription.
Effects of Theophylline
Cats suffering from asthma will have their condition improved in more than one way. More precisely, Theophylline is able to:
- Relax bronchial smooth muscle
- Increase the contractility and efficiency of the myocardium
- Raise the heart rate
- Intensify blood pressure
- Increase blood flow in the kidneys
- Stimulate central nervous system, especially the medullary respiratory center
By relaxing the smooth muscles of the airways, Theophylline widens the bronchi and permits your cat to increase the oxygen intake. Phosphodiesterases represent enzymes found in the cells of bronchial tubes and blood vessels. Theophylline prevents these enzymes from working properly and as a consequence, the airway muscles start to dilate.
Recommended Dosage
The dosage for cats differs substantially from the one recommended for humans. Asthmatic cats should be administered 2 mg per pound, between 1 and 3 times per day. It is very important to follow the advice of the veterinarian, as overdoses can have serious side effects.
It is difficult to tell how much time it takes for the drug to make asthma symptoms disappear. The duration of the treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms and on the possible adverse reactions that may appear.
Contraindications, Toxicity Risk and Side Effects
It is highly recommended not to administer this drug to your cat if he or she suffers from:
- Arrhythmia
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Kidney problems
- Liver problems
Theophylline interacts with a wide range of drugs, so the toxicity risk is very high. Make sure that your cat does not eat fatty meals while taking Theophylline. A diet rich in fat increases the toxicity of this medication. Among the drugs and substances that can interact with Theophylline, the most important are:
- Acetaminophen
- Caffeine
- Cimetidine
- Ciprofloxacin
- Erythromycin
- Furosemide
- Phenobarbital
- Phenytoin
- Propranolol
If your cat is administered Theophylline along with the drugs listed above, the following side effects may be noticed:
- Arrhythmia
- Diarrhea
- High blood pressure
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Seizures are typically noticed if an overdose has been administered. To avoid such situations, you have to tell the veterinarian about any other types of medication that is taken by your cat. The veterinarian may recommend lowering the dosage or may prescribe other drugs that do not interact with Theophylline.
Also, you have to make sure that your cat is not allergic to this drug. Keep in mind that asthma may also be caused by an allergy, so an additional allergen could make this health condition much worse.
Alternatives to Theophylline
Since there are so many interactions and side effects, sometimes it is better to replace Theophylline with another asthma treatment. Custom made asthma inhalers can be successfully used for relieving the symptoms, but most of the cats do not react calmly to such devices. Antihistamines are recommended if asthma appeared as a complication of an allergic reaction. Cyclosporine may be considered one of the most recent treatments for asthma in cats. This drug is able to suppress the inflammation when the other drugs are not effective.