Cyproheptadine
Cyproheptadine is an antihistamine for hay fever, hives and itching that is also used to improve appetite, and the shop lists it as Periactin 4mg tablets.
What cyproheptadine is used for
Cyproheptadine is an antihistamine: it blocks histamine, the chemical the body releases during an allergic reaction. It is used for allergic conditions such as hay fever with sneezing and a runny or blocked nose, hives, and itchy skin. The relentless itch of hives is what many people come to it for.
It belongs to the older, first-generation group of antihistamines. Besides histamine it blocks serotonin, and it has anticholinergic (drying) effects — which is where the dry mouth and the sleepy feeling come from. Nothing switches the allergy off; the reaction itself is turned down.
How do I take cyproheptadine tablets?
The tablets are 4mg and are swallowed with water. Adults and older children usually take 4mg every eight hours. Younger children take smaller doses. A dose can go with a meal or between meals.
Drowsiness is what most people notice first, and for many it eases after a few days. Until you know how the tablets affect you, hold off driving or anything else that needs sharp attention. Alcohol makes the drowsiness and dizziness noticeably worse. Sleeping tablets, opioid painkillers and anxiety medicines add to the same effect.
Cyproheptadine for appetite
Some people take cyproheptadine for a poor appetite or unintended weight loss, not for allergy at all. Years ago it was noticed that allergy patients on it were eating more, and the effect has been put to use ever since. Anyone taking it for hay fever or hives may see the same thing, with hunger and weight both rising over the weeks. How strongly it acts differs a lot between people.
Side effects
Dry mouth, dry nose and throat, dizziness, blurred vision, headache and an upset stomach are the usual complaints. Children sometimes become restless or unusually excited instead of sleepy. Confusion, hallucinations, a fast or irregular heartbeat and shaking point to too much cyproheptadine in the body; trouble passing urine is another effect of its drying action that some people get.
The cyproheptadine listing
PockDose carries one cyproheptadine product: Periactin 4mg tablets, the strength used in the doses above and the form most people take. It sits in the allergies section of the shop. Keep the pack dry and out of the sun — heat and damp spoil tablets over time.
Sources
- Cyproheptadine: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
- Antihistamines and weight gain — aaaai.org
Is Cyproheptadine available to order in Hong Kong?
Cyproheptadine can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. The range is generic Periactin, also sold as Cyproheptadine tablets, as 4mg tablets. Every order ships in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing on the outside about the contents.
How much do Cyproheptadine products cost in Hong Kong?
It depends on the strength and pack size. The cyproheptadine product listed here shows its current prices in HKD or the currency you select.
Do I need a prescription to order Cyproheptadine?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order cyproheptadine. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What are the brand names for cyproheptadine?
Periactin is a brand name of cyproheptadine, which is also sold as Ciplactin. Here, cyproheptadine can be bought online as generic Periactin. These are generics, not the original brand.
Is cyproheptadine the same as Periactin?
Yes. Periactin is a brand name for cyproheptadine, and the active ingredient in the tablets is the same. PockDose lists it as Periactin 4mg tablets, taken by mouth for allergic conditions such as hives and hay fever.
Does cyproheptadine cause weight gain?
It can, and the effect comes from appetite rather than from how the body burns energy. Histamine normally dampens hunger, so an antihistamine that blocks it can leave you wanting more food. Weight gain is a known effect of antihistamines as a group, not only of this one.
Can children take cyproheptadine?
Yes, at lower doses than adults take. Older children can take the 4mg tablet two or three times a day, while younger children need a smaller amount than a whole tablet. The strength stocked here is the 4mg tablet.
Can I take cyproheptadine with other allergy or cold medicines?
Other antihistamines, including the ones tucked into cold and flu remedies, add to the drying and sleepy effects rather than adding extra relief. Two antihistamines at once are more likely to leave you drowsy and dry-mouthed.