Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Commons^™

An Overview Of The Methylxanthines And Their Regulation In The Horse, J Daniel Harkins, W. Allen Rees, G. D. Mundy, Scott D. Stanley, Thomas Tobin

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Publications

Caffiene, theophylline and theobromine are naturally occurring members of the methylxanthine family;pentoxfylline, dyphylline and enprofylline are structurally related synthetic pharmaceuticals. Caffiene has predominantly central nervous system effects, theophylline, dyphylline and enprofylline have predominantly bronchodilator effects, while theobromine is associated with diuretic responses. Pentoxfylline is thought to increase red cell deformability and facillitate blood flow through capillary beds. The methylxanthines are not highly potent agents; they are typically administered in gram doses and they tend to have relatively long half-lives. They remain detectable in plasma and urine for relatively long periods. Similarly, traces of the naturally occurring members of this family …