What are the uses of xanthine derivatives?
Xanthine derivatives are used to prevent and treat symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness due to acute bronchospasm associated with lung conditions:
•Asthma,
• Emphysema,
• Chronic bronchitis,
Xanthine derivatives are used to treat neonatal apnea (brief episodes of cessation of breathing) in newborns.
How do xanthine derivatives work?
Xanthine derivatives are drugs used to treat bronchospasm caused by lung conditions such as asthma.
Xanthine is a naturally occurring compound in the human body and is also found in plant products such as coffee, tea and cocoa beans.
Xanthine derivatives are a group of alkaloids. Xanthine derivatives act as bronchodilators and mild stimulants. Xanthine derivatives ease breathing by reducing the symptoms of bronchospasm as well as relaxing the smooth muscles of the respiratory tract.
Xanthine derivatives increase cellular levels of signaling molecules known as cyclic adenosine monophosphate by inhibiting the activity of phosphodiesterase, an enzyme that regulates levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate. An increase in the tissue concentration of cAMP causes relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle and bronchodilation.
What are the side effects of xanthine derivatives?
Side effects of xanthine derivatives such as:
• Headache,
• Central nervous system stimulation,
• Restlessness,
• Insomnia,
• Irritability,
• Seizure,
• Skeletal muscle tremors,
• Vomiting,
• Diarrhea,
• Nausea,
• Urine retention,
• Heart beat,
• Increased urination,
• Difficulty urinating in elderly men with prostatitis,
• Exfoliative dermatitis,
• Rapid heartbeat)
• Heart attack,
• High level of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia), with concomitant hyperthyroidism,