Drug General Information (ID: DDIQ3LOFU2)
Drug Name			Fludrocortisone		Drug Info		Aminophylline		Drug Info
Drug Type		Small molecule				Small molecule
Therapeutic Class		Antiinflammatory Agents				Bronchodilators
Structure

Mechanism of Fludrocortisone-Aminophylline Interaction (Severity Level: Moderate)
Increased risk of hypokalemia Click to Show/Hide Mechanism Graph
Drug Name		Fludrocortisone				Aminophylline
Mechanism		Hypokalemia				Hypokalemia
Key Mechanism Factor 1
		Factor Name		Hypokalemia
		Factor Description		Hypokalemia is a condition in which the amount of potassium in your blood is lower than normal. If you are mildly hypokalemic, you may not have any signs or symptoms, but severe hypokalemia may have the following symptoms: fatigue, constipation, frequent or heavy urination, muscle cramps or skin tingling, muscle weakness, and a fast or irregular heartbeat.
Mechanism Description		Increased risk of hypokalemia by the combination of Fludrocortisone and Aminophylline

Recommended Action
Management		Monitoring for altered efficacy and safety of theophylline and altered serum potassium and theophylline concentrations is advisable when these drugs are coadministered. Patients should be advised to notify their physician if they experience signs of hypokalemia (e.g., weakness, lethargy, and muscle pains or cramps), worsening respiratory symptoms, or signs of theophylline toxicity (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, restlessness, insomnia, or irregular heartbeat).

References
1	Leavengood DC, Bunker-Soler AL, Nelson HS "The effect of corticosteroids on theophylline metabolism." Ann Allergy 50 (1983): 249-51
2	Fergusson RJ, Scott CM, Rafferty P, Gaddie J "Effect of prednisolone on theophylline pharmacokinetics in patients with chronic airflow obstruction." Thorax 42 (1987): 195-8
3	Buchanan N, Hurwitz S, Butler P "Asthma - a possible interaction between hydrocortisone and theophylline." S Afr Med J 56 (1979): 1147-8