To examine the possibility of a pharmacokinetic interaction between doxapram and theophylline, both drugs (1.5 mg/kg/h doxapram, and 0.5 mg/kg/h theophylline) were administered in that order and in reverse order to patients with apnea of prematurity. During the therapeutic steady state phase of doxapram considerable serum theophylline concentrations were found despite discontinuation of the latter drug for at least 48 h. Serum doxapram concentrations during theophylline steady state were negligible. Pretreatments of theophylline failed to alter the pharmacokinetic indices of doxapram. Thus, a lack of pharmacokinetic interaction between the two drugs was demonstrated.