Since up to 90% of a theophylline dose is biotransformed, drugs influencing microsomal enzyme systems in the liver may affect the elimination of theophylline. Other integrated mechanisms (e.g. hepatic uptake) may also be altered by concurrent administration of other drugs. Whatever the mechanism, the interaction may be sufficient to necessitate adjustment of the theophylline dosage, preferably guided by plasma theophylline determinations.Comedication with phenobarbitone may require an increase of the theophylline dose by about 30% due to increased clearance resulting from enzyme induction. Similarly, with phenytoin and carbamazepine a dose increase of about 40 to 50% may be required. In the case of rifampicin, isoniazid or sulphinpyrazone comedication, an increase of the theophylline dose by about 20 to 25% may be needed.On the other hand, other drugs decrease theophylline clearance, making a reduction in the dose of concurrent theophylline advisable: with usual doses of erythromycin, propranolol and isoprenaline (isoproterenol), a reduction of about 25% is needed; with cimetidine and oral contraceptives by about 30% or more; and with triacetyloleandomycin (troleandomycin) by about 50%. In high doses, the xanthine oxidase inhibitor allopurinol can also retard theophylline elimination, and a reduction of the theophylline dose by about 20% may be advisable.Conflicting results have been reported on the influence of frusemide (furosemide) and influenza vaccines, while data regarding the effect of corticosteroids, benzodiazepines and verapamil on theophylline kinetics are not yet conclusive.Many drugs, however, appear not to significantly affect theophylline clearance. Some are from the same therapeutic group as the drugs mentioned above and offer clinical alternatives for coadministration with theophylline. Examples of drugs not found to have a significant effect on theophylline pharmacokinetics are ranitidine, josamycin, midecamycin, amoxycillin, tetracycline, cephalexin, cefaclor, orciprenaline, metoprolol, antacids, medroxyprogesterone acetate, metoclopramide and metronidazole.Most of the drugs discussed in this review appear not to affect the volume of distribution of theophylline significantly.