Theophylline dosage requirements to maintain serum concentrations of 10 to 20 microgram/ml among asthmatic patients were examined in 156 children, ages 2 1/2 months to 16 years, and 33 otherwise health adults. Using 100% bioavailable preparations, low doses were used initially and increased, if tolerated, at three-day intervals. Final dosage was based on serum theophylline measurements which were subsequently repeated after six or more months of therapy. Dosage standardized by weight averaged 24.1 +/- 5.5 mg/kg/day (mean +/- SD) among the 77 children under age 9 years. Age-related variability of weight-adjusted doses were not observed for younger children, but average dose requirements decreased progressively beyound age 9 years to 13 mg/kg/day for patients beyoung 16 years of age. Although interpatient variability in dosage was confirmed at all ages, intrapatient variability in requirements over an average eight-month interval were small; dosage changes to maintain therapeutic serum concentration were primarily associated with growth. These data allow age-specific guidelines for dosage recommendations based on the likelihood of optimally effective and potentially toxic serum theophylline concentrations.