ATC Group: R03DA Xanthines

The World Health Organization's ATC classification organizes medical drugs based on therapeutic properties, chemical composition, and anatomy. It helps make essential medicines readily available globally and is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry.

Position of R03DA in the ATC hierarchy

Level Code Title
1 R Respiratory system
2 R03 Drugs for obstructive airway diseases
3 R03D Other systemic drugs for obstructive airway diseases
4 R03DA Xanthines

Group R03DA contents

Code Title
R03DA01 Diprophylline
R03DA02 Choline theophyllinate
R03DA03 Proxyphylline
R03DA04 Theophylline
R03DA05 Aminophylline
R03DA06 Etamiphylline
R03DA07 Theobromine
R03DA08 Bamifylline
R03DA09 Acefylline piperazine
R03DA10 Bufylline
R03DA11 Doxofylline
R03DA12
R03DA20 Combinations of xanthines
R03DA51 Diprophylline, combinations
R03DA54 Theophylline, combinations excl. psycholeptics
R03DA55 Aminophylline, combinations
R03DA57 Theobromine, combinations
R03DA74 Theophylline, combinations with psycholeptics

Active ingredients in R03DA

Active Ingredient Description
Aminophylline

Aminophylline is a soluble derivative of theophylline and is given for its theophylline activity. Aminophylline relaxes smooth muscle and relieves bronchial spasm. It stimulates the myocardium and reduces venous pressure in congestive heart failure, leading to a marked increase in cardiac output.

Bamifylline

Bamifylline is a methylxanthinic derivative with two side chains in position 7 and 8, distinguishing it clearly from theophylline. Bamifylline carries out a bronchospasmolytic action on the smooth musculature and also blocks the action of the bronchoconstriction mediators. Unlike theophylline, bamifylline usually has no exciting effects on the central nervous system.

Bufylline

Bufylline is a combination of theophylline and aminoisobutanol used as a bronchodilator. It also acts and may be used as a diuretic.

Choline theophyllinate

Choline theophyllinate is the choline salt of theophylline. It has a strong bronchodilator action, due to the relaxation of the smooth muscle fibers of the bronchi.

Diprophylline

Diprophylline is a xanthine derivative with pharmacologic actions similar to theophylline and other members of this class of drugs. Its primary action is that of bronchodilation, but it also exhibits peripheral vasodilatory and other smooth muscle relaxant activity to a lesser degree. The bronchodilatory action of dyphylline, as with other xanthines, is thought to be mediated through competitive inhibition of phosphodiesterase with a resulting increase in cyclic AMP producing relaxation of the bronchial smooth muscle. Diprophylline exerts its bronchodilatory effects directly and, unlike theophylline, is excreted unchanged by the kidneys without being metabolized by the liver. Because of this, dyphylline pharmacokinetics and plasma levels are not influenced by various factors that affect liver function and hepatic enzyme activity, such as smoking, age, congestive heart failure, or concomitant use of drugs which affect liver function.

Doxofylline
Proxyphylline
Theophylline

Theophylline is a bronchodilator. In addition it affects the function of a number of cells involved in the inflammatory processes associated with asthma and chronic obstructive airways disease. Theophylline stimulates the myocardium and produces a diminution of venous pressure in congestive heart failure leading to marked increase in cardiac output.

Related product monographs

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AMINOPHYLLINE INJECTION BP Injection Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (GB) MPI, EU: SmPC
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