Drug interactions
Obeticholic acid + Theophylline
Severity: Moderate
Obeticholic acid and Theophylline: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Obeticholic acid labeling notes that it can raise exposure to CYP1A2 substrates with a narrow therapeutic index, and theophylline is a principal example. Higher theophylline levels can cause nausea, tachycardia, arrhythmias and seizures.
What this interaction means in plain words
Obeticholic acid and Theophylline can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Obeticholic acid belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Theophylline belongs to Respiratory.
Why it happens
Obeticholic acid reduces CYP1A2 activity, decreasing theophylline clearance.
What to do
Monitor theophylline serum levels and clinical signs of toxicity when starting or stopping obeticholic acid, and reduce the theophylline dose as needed.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Obeticholic acid and Theophylline, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Theophylline
- Riociguat + Theophylline Contraindicated
- Adenosine + Theophylline Major
- Apalutamide + Theophylline Major
- Bupropion + Theophylline Major
- Carvedilol + Theophylline Major
- Cimetidine + Theophylline Major
Other interactions of Obeticholic acid
- Cholestyramine + Obeticholic acid Moderate
- Colesevelam + Obeticholic acid Moderate
- Colestipol + Obeticholic acid Moderate
- Obeticholic acid + Tizanidine Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Obeticholic acid with Theophylline?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Obeticholic acid and Theophylline can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Obeticholic acid labeling notes that it can raise exposure to CYP1A2 substrates with a narrow therapeutic index, and theophylline is a principal example. Higher theophylline levels can cause nausea, tachycardia, arrhythmias and seizures.
How serious is the interaction between Obeticholic acid and Theophylline?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor theophylline serum levels and clinical signs of toxicity when starting or stopping obeticholic acid, and reduce the theophylline dose as needed.
What other medicines interact with Theophylline?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Theophylline with, for example, Riociguat, Adenosine, Apalutamide. The full list is on the Theophylline page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
