A once daily theophylline preparation in prevention of nocturnal symptoms in childhood asthma.

Twenty school children with chronic asthma who despite regular prophylactic therapy continued to have troublesome nocturnal wheeze or cough entered a double-blind cross-over study in which a once daily theophylline preparation was compared with placebo to assess control of these symptoms. Seventeen children completed both phases of the study. Significant improvement was noted in the day and night symptom scores, the morning dip index and daily peak flow readings with a significant reduction in rescue bronchodilator inhaler usage during the active treatment period. Satisfactory serum theophylline concentrations were obtained 11-12 h post dose in all children using a standard dose of 18 mg/kg per day at 2000 hours. Three children were withdrawn because of minor side-effects. The theophylline preparation studied in conjunction with other conventional anti-asthma therapy was thus effective in controlling nocturnal symptoms.