Treatment of children with a single dose a day of sustained release theophylline.

Six children were given a single dose of theophylline (Nuelin Retard) (median dose 13.2 mg/kg) after a large breakfast, rich in carbohydrates, for 4 days. On 5 serum levels of theophylline were measured over the following 24 h. Absorption of theophylline was slow and acceptable peak to trough differences were demonstrated. However subtherapeutic serum levels of theophylline were recorded in all children at some time during the dose interval.