Drug & supplement interaction

Zeaxanthin + Theophylline

Theophylline brand names: T-Phyl, Duraphyl, Aerolate JR, Aerolate SR, Theo-Dur, and others.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated June 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 20, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Zeaxanthin and Theophylline in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first.

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Interaction report

Zeaxanthin and Theophylline

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Theophylline and Zeaxanthin in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Zeaxanthin safety at a glance

Zeaxanthin overall Generally safe Generally well tolerated when used at typical supplement amounts.
Pregnancy Likely Safe When used orally and appropriately in amounts found in foods. Zeaxanthin is found in breast milk and levels correlate with infant status. There is insufficient... Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Likely Safe When used orally and appropriately in amounts found in foods. Zeaxanthin is found in breast milk and levels correlate with infant status. There is insufficient... Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Theophylline and Zeaxanthin? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Theophylline

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Theophylline is filed under 6 classifications — including methylxanthines, cytochrome p450 1a2 (cyp1a2) substrates, cytochrome p450 1a2 (cyp1a2) substrates. Zeaxanthin has documented interactions with 1 drug class — the most serious being antidiabetes drugs (moderate) — and none of Theophylline’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Zeaxanthin Does Interact With Other Medications

Zeaxanthin has 86 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Theophylline isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 86 No known interaction 2,744 (incl. Theophylline)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Zeaxanthin

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Zeaxanthin. Pick one to open its full report.

What to actually watch for

What Theophylline’s Own FDA Label Lists

This is not an interaction — none of it involves Zeaxanthin. These are the most notable effects listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of Theophylline’s own FDA label, for the medication by itself. Knowing the drug’s own list makes it easier to work out the likely cause if something new turns up while you take both. 9 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Severe muscle breakdown Worth acting on
  • Trouble passing urine Worth acting on
  • Low potassium Worth acting on
  • High blood sugar Worth acting on
  • An irregular heartbeat Worth acting on
  • Confusion Worth acting on
  • Seizures Worth acting on
  • A severe allergic reaction Worth acting on
  • Hives Worth acting on
  • Heartburn

Showing the 10 most notable of 25 label-listed effects — ranked by how unusual each one is across medicines generally, with serious effects weighted up.

From the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Theophylline. Read the label on DailyMed › Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 12,164 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Theophylline that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Zeaxanthin’s licensed record lists no adverse effects our clinical vocabulary could match, so there is no Zeaxanthin side to compare — that is a limit of the record, not a statement that Zeaxanthin has no side effects.

Special populations

Zeaxanthin in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Likely Safe

When used orally and appropriately in amounts found in foods. Zeaxanthin is found in breast milk and levels correlate with infant status. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of supplemental zeaxanthin.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

Overlapping uses

What Theophylline Is Prescribed For, and What Zeaxanthin Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Theophylline is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Zeaxanthin is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Theophylline is prescribed for: Theophylline — available as extended-release capsules (Theo-24), extended-release tablets, and oral solution (Elixophyllin) — is used to treat symptoms and reversible airflow obstruction caused by chronic asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. All supported formulations share these indications. Theophylline is intended for patients with ongoing or recurring symptoms, not for sudden (acute) breathing attacks, which need faster-acting treatments.

Zeaxanthin has been studied for:

  • Asthma studied, not established Zeaxanthin has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Zeaxanthin for asthma

    It is unclear if oral zeaxanthin is beneficial for asthma prevention.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Theophylline on your own; if you are taking Zeaxanthin for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

From our Q&A

Questions About Zeaxanthin or Theophylline

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Zeaxanthin or Theophylline, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Theophylline

This page covers Zeaxanthin only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Theophylline page lists 126 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Ephedra (major), Sida Cordifolia (major), Adrafinil (moderate) and African Wild Potato (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 89 moderate · 34 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Theophylline page

“Stop ephedra before anything else if you take theophylline (Theo-Dur, Slo-Bid, and others) for asthma or COPD. Both are stimulants, and together they raise the risk of serious heart and nervous system effects; Sida cordifolia, an herb that contains ephedrine, carries the same major rating.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Theophylline interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Zeaxanthin as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 3,239 real supplement products containing Zeaxanthin, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Zeaxanthin. Even though Zeaxanthin itself has no known interaction with Theophylline, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Zeaxanthin and Theophylline Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Zeaxanthin
Top 10%

#90 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Theophylline
Top half

#1,244 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Zeaxanthin reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Zeaxanthin and Theophylline records this page draws on were last updated June 22, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Zeaxanthin

What is Zeaxanthin?

Zeaxanthin
  • Eye and macular health
  • Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
  • Protection from blue light
  • General antioxidant support
  • Cataract risk reduction

Zeaxanthin is a carotenoid pigment that, along with lutein, concentrates in the macula of the eye and may help support long-term eye health. The strongest evidence relates to slowing progression of advanced age-related macular degeneration when combined with other nutrients, while many other uses remain unproven. It is generally well tolerated, but talk to your pharmacist or doctor before starting any supplement.

Pigment found in leafy greens, corn, eggs, and other colorful plants and foods · Capsules, softgels, tablets (often combined with lutein), and as part of multivitamin or eye-health formulas

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Zeaxanthin is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Zeaxanthin record says about it on its own.

Zeaxanthin: dosing

There is no official, universally established dose of zeaxanthin. In eye-health research, it has typically been studied as part of a nutrient combination that includes lutein, often at much smaller amounts than lutein.Because products vary widely, the best approach is to follow the directions on the product label. Zeaxanthin is frequently combined with lutein, so check the full ingredient list.

From our Zeaxanthin monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Zeaxanthin monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Theophylline

What Is Theophylline Used For?

Brand names: T-Phyl, Duraphyl, Aerolate JR, Aerolate SR, Theo-Dur, Slo-Bid, Theo-24, Uniphyl, Slo-phyllin Gyrocaps, Theolair, Theolair SR, Quibron-T/SR, Quibron-T, Aerolate III, Theo-X, Bronkodyl, Theoclear LA-130, Constant-T, Theoclear LA-260, Elixophyllin, Theovent, Theobid Jr Duracap, Respbid, Theobid Duracap

Theophylline — available as extended-release capsules (Theo-24), extended-release tablets, and oral solution (Elixophyllin) — is used to treat symptoms and reversible airflow obstruction caused by chronic asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.

All supported formulations share these indications. Theophylline is intended for patients with ongoing or recurring symptoms, not for sudden (acute) breathing attacks, which need faster-acting treatments.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Theophylline

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (12,323 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Dyspnea 2,441 reports
Asthma 2,097 reports
Pneumonia 1,466 reports
Wheezing 1,417 reports
Vomiting 1,230 reports
See full Theophylline drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Zeaxanthin

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Zeaxanthin — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
86Moderate
0Minor
2,743No known interaction
86 Moderate 2,743 No interaction
Moderate

86 interactions

Showing 60 of 86 moderate interactions — see all 86 on the Zeaxanthin page.

No interaction 2,743 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Zeaxanthin against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,743 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Zeaxanthin list.

See the full Zeaxanthin interactions page
See every supplement checked against Theophylline, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Zeaxanthin References

The 4 references that drive our Zeaxanthin monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Montonen J, Knekt P, Jarvinen R, Reunanen A. Dietary antioxidant intake and risk of type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 2004;27:362-6. PubMed
  2. Leermakers ET, Darweesh SK, Baena CP, et al. The effects of lutein on cardiometabolic health across the life course: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr 2016;103(2):481-94. PubMed
  3. Kou L, Du M, Zhang C, Dai Z, Li X, Zhang B. The Hypoglycemic, Hypolipidemic, and Anti-Diabetic Nephritic Activities of Zeaxanthin in Diet-Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Sprague Dawley Rats. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2017;182(3):944-955. PubMed
  4. Xu X, Zhao X, Berde Y, Low YL, Kuchan MJ. Milk and Plasma Lutein and Zeaxanthin Concentrations in Chinese Breast-Feeding Mother-Infant Dyads With Healthy Maternal Fruit and Vegetable Intake. J Am Coll Nutr 2019;38(2):179-184. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Zeaxanthin and Theophylline Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Zeaxanthin with Theophylline?
We do not list a known interaction between Zeaxanthin and Theophylline. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Are Zeaxanthin and Theophylline used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Zeaxanthin in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Theophylline is being adjusted to a target.
How was the Zeaxanthin and Theophylline combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Theophylline is filed under 6 classifications, and Zeaxanthin has documented interactions with 1 drug class — none of Theophylline's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Zeaxanthin interact with any other medications?
Yes. Zeaxanthin has 86 documented drug interactions in our database — Theophylline is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Theophylline interact with any supplements?
Yes. Theophylline has documented interactions with 126 supplements in our database — Zeaxanthin is not one of them. The Theophylline interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Where next

Keep Exploring

Zeaxanthin monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Theophylline drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Theophylline supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Theophylline, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 4 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Theophylline and Zeaxanthin?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.