Antiphlogistic/antipyretic/analgesic agents containing theobromine or theophylline derivatives as active ingredient

A method for treating a subject suffering from at least one of the symptoms of pain, fever, and tissue and/or bone and joint inflammation, which comprises administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition which comprises a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the general formula:

• ##STR222## wherein one of A and B is --CH.sub.3 and the other of A and B is ##STR223## wherein R is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, Z is selected from the group consisting of (1) a group of the formula ##STR224## wherein X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group, a trifluoromethyl group or a halogen atom;
• (2) a pyridyl group and (3) a group of the formula:
• ##STR225## wherein Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 are the same or different and Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 are selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group, a trifluoromethyl group and a halogen atom, and n is an integer of from 2 to 10, with the proviso that when A is ##STR226## Z is not pyridyl, and acid addition salts thereof, for analgesic, antiphlogistic, and antipyretic purposes, in combination with a pharmaceutically effective carrier.