Theophylline is classified as which type of drug?

Theophylline is classified as which type of drug?

• A. Bronchodilator
• B. Antibiotic
• C. Antihistamine
• D. CNS stimulant

Answer: (A)

Bronchodilation is the key idea here. Theophylline is a bronchodilator, belonging to the methylxanthine class. It relaxes airway smooth muscle primarily by inhibiting phosphodiesterase, which raises cAMP levels and promotes relaxation, and it also antagonizes adenosine receptors to reduce bronchoconstriction. This makes it useful for preventing and relieving bronchospasm in conditions like asthma and COPD. It’s not an antibiotic or an antihistamine, and while it can have mild CNS stimulant effects, its primary clinical use is as a bronchodilator.

Bronchodilation is the key idea here. Theophylline is a bronchodilator, belonging to the methylxanthine class. It relaxes airway smooth muscle primarily by inhibiting phosphodiesterase, which raises cAMP levels and promotes relaxation, and it also antagonizes adenosine receptors to reduce bronchoconstriction. This makes it useful for preventing and relieving bronchospasm in conditions like asthma and COPD. It’s not an antibiotic or an antihistamine, and while it can have mild CNS stimulant effects, its primary clinical use is as a bronchodilator.