What is the mechanism of action of anhydrous theophylline in treating a nonreversible obstructive airway disease such as COPD? A female client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) takes anhydrous theophylline. 200 mg P.O. every 8 hours. During a routine clinic visit. the client asks the nurse how the drug works.

Theophylline is a medication which is given to patients who have breathing or other respiratory problems. One of those is COPD which is also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which can be caused by smoking.

Sometimes, people may be treated for a nonreversible obstructive airway disease like COPD. If a female client has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD and takes anhydrous theophylline, then she may be taking two hundred milligrams of PO every eight hours.

Then the client goes for a routine clinic visit, and the nurse asks how everything is going by referring to the reaction to the drug. The mechanism for treating this is that it make the central respiratory center more sensitive to carbon dioxide and stimulates the respiratory drive

It makes the central respiratory center more sensitive to carbon dioxide and stimulates the respiratory drive.

Anhydrous theophylline and other methylxanthine agents make the central respiratory center more sensitive to CO2 and stimulate the respiratory drive. Inhibition of phosphodiesterase is the drugs mechanism of action in treating asthma and other reversible obstructive airway diseases not COPD. Methylxanthine agents inhibit rather than stimulate adenosine receptors. Although these agents reduce diaphragmatic fatigue in clients with chronic bronchitis or emphysema. they dont alter diaphragm movement to increase chest expansion and enhance gas exchange.