Increasing CSF production w/ Theophylline (also known as Dimethylxanthine)

[guineapig]

Anyone have experience w/ Theophylline? It seems some drs Rx it to increase csf production. I understand though, that it is a vasoconstrictor and somewhat similar to caffeine, which I would not want because the headache is bad enough and this would only worsen the tinnitus (as caffeine -coffee, espresso- does) and my anxiety.

What benefits and side effects anyone have? Doses? Did it have any immediate effects?

[Concerned Gal]

Hi Guinea,

I've done the Theophylline thing. I was on it from July 06 to November 06. I was on SR 200mg twice a day (SR = slow release). I'm quite a lightweight though (well, I was at the time)

I requested to be put on it after reading that some people were seeing benefits while on it. From July 06 to October 06, I did see an improvement in symptoms but nothing more than a couple of Cokes a day would do. You have to have regular blood tests on it (every 3 months).

I ended up having a thoracic blood patch in September/October. I stayed on theophylline for the blood patch and for about 1-2 months afterwards. I was encouraged to come off it by the anathetist who performed the patch. Mainly because after the patch I did see a dramatic improvement in symptoms but was still having sharp pains in the head now and then. He thought they might have been caffeine overload headaches but this was before I had another MRI which confirmed I still had meningeal enhancement (the leak).

My thoughts on it - in the short term I didn't see any adverse issues with taking it, it let me "hold my own" but didn't fix my leak. I personally haven't decided to go back on it (when I probably could as I still have symptoms) but I'm happy at the moment to self medicate with coke as required. I did have concerns with the possible long term implications on my heart as constant caffeine I believe (not entirely sure) can possibly give you arthymerias (spelt wrong) and you can't pick and choose when to have the tabs. I did notice my heart pounded every so often (felt like I got a shot of caffeine).

If coffee, coke etc are making you worse, I probably wouldn't suggest trying it. I wanted to go on it because I was a different woman after 3 cokes and I couldn't (and my poor teeth) couldn't sustain drinking that amount every day.

Hope this helps.