Pamabrom - For that extra special time of the month

• mild diuretic consisting of a 1:1 mixture of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol and 8-bromotheophylline
  
• 8-bromotheophylline is a methylxanthine, meaning that it is structurally similar to things like caffeine and theobromine (found in chocolate), and like these compounds it is a diuretic, mild stimulant, and bronchodilator
• 8-bromotheophylline also inhibits alkaline phosphatase, resulting in elevated levels of phosphate and potentially messing with bone metabolism (excessive bone breakdown is a bad thing)
• 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) can be used to create a phosphorylating buffer solution, so I'm guessing that it functions to limit the inhibition of alkaline phosphatase by 8-bromotheophylline
• often found in combination with acetaminophen (paracetamol) in drugs sold for relief of the wondrous symptoms associated with menstruation (things like pelvic pain, headache, and bloating, just in case you wondering) or for just plain old back/head/muscle pain
• acetaminophen, being an analgesic, helps alleviate pain (by inhibiting the synthesis of pain-inducing molecules called prostaglandins), while pamabrom, being a diuretic, allegedly helps reduce bloating
• there isn't a whole lot of data to suggest that either acetaminophen or pamabrom actually do much of anything for menstrual discomfort, but autosuggestion is a powerful thing
• has been reported to be the cause of drug hypersensitivity reactions, including a serum sickness-like reaction (SSLR, featuring fever, rash, and joint pain) and a fixed drug reaction (a single lonely perioral red 'n raised skin lesion)
  

- Nedorost S et al. Fixed drug eruption from pamabrom. Cleve Clin J Med. 1991 Jan-Feb;58(1):33-4.
- Oner P et al. Evaluation of the effect of low-dose oral theophylline therapy on some bone turnover markers and serum prolidase I activity in mild asthmatics. Pharmacol Res. 1999 Aug;40(2):189-93.
- Swanson JK, English JC 3rd. Serum sickness-like reaction to Pamabrom. J Drugs Dermatol. 2006 Mar;5(3):284-6.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamabrom
- http://www.aafp.org/afp/20031101/1781.html