Release form and composition
Dosage forms:
- Syrup: light orange, transparent, has a fruity smell (tutti-frutti) and a sweet taste (100 ml in dark glass bottles, 1 bottle in a cardboard box complete with a dosage cap);
- Tablets: flat, round, chamfered, white or grayish-white, on one side there is a line mark, on the other there is an arcuate engraving “PERITOL”, almost odorless or odorless (10 pieces in blisters, 2 blisters in a cardboard pack ).
1 ml of syrup contains:
- Active ingredient: cyproheptadine hydrochloride – 0.4 mg (cyproheptadine hydrochloride sesquihydrate – 0.43 mg);
- Additional components: 96% ethanol, sorbic acid, sucrose, sodium hydroxide, glacial acetic acid, tutti-frutti flavoring agent, sunset yellow dye CI15895 E.110 (ariavit sunset yellow), purified water.
1 tablet contains:
- Active ingredient: cyproheptadine hydrochloride – 4 mg (cyproheptadine hydrochloride sesquihydrate – 4.3 mg);
- Additional components: potato starch, magnesium stearate, talc, gelatin, lactose monohydrate.
Pharmacological properties
Pharmacodynamics
The active component of Peritol, cyproheptadine, is a H1-histamine receptor blocker and has antiserotonin and M-anticholinergic activity. This provides prevention and facilitates the course of allergic reactions. Cyproheptadine is also characterized by sedative, anticholinergic, antiexudative and antipruritic effects.
The drug inhibits the production of ACTH in Ishchenko-Cushing syndrome and the hypersecretion of somatotropin, which is accompanied by acromegaly, and also increases appetite.
Pharmacokinetics
When taken orally, cyproheptadine is quickly and almost completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Its maximum level in the blood is reached during the first two hours after administration, and the therapeutic concentration is maintained for 4–6 hours. After a single dose of Peritol 4 mg (in the form of tablets or syrup), 2–20% of the substance is excreted through the intestines (of which 34% unchanged, which does not exceed 5.7% of the dose taken). About 40% of the administered dose of the drug is excreted in the urine, mainly in the form of the quaternary ammonium conjugate of cyproheptadine with glucuronic acid.
The excretion of the active component of Peritol in the urine when taken in the form of tablets or syrup does not differ significantly. With long-term use of the drug in daily doses of 12–20 mg, no unchanged substance was detected in the urine of patients. Chronic renal failure leads to decreased excretion of cyproheptadine. Reliable evidence that the compound penetrates the placental barrier or into breast milk has not been found.
Instructions for use of Peritol: method and dosage
Peritol has a sedative effect, especially at the beginning of treatment, so the first dose of the drug is recommended to be taken after dinner.
Syrup
Recommended dosage regimen for children (daily dose):
- 6-24 months: 0.4 mg/kg;
- 2-6 years: 6 mg (2 mg 3 times a day, maximum 8 mg);
- 7-14 years: 12 mg (4 mg 3 times a day).
Peritol for weight gain (for anorexia) is usually prescribed to children from 6-8 mg per day.
The average adult daily dose is 12 mg (4 mg 3 times a day), the maximum is 32 mg.
Dosage regimen depending on the disease (daily dose):
- Chronic urticaria: 6 mg in 3 divided doses;
- Anorexia: 12 mg in 3 divided doses;
- Acute migraine attacks: 4 mg once. If there is no effect, a single dose can be taken again after 30 minutes. Over 4-6 hours, the total dose of Peritol should not exceed 8 mg.
As a maintenance therapy, 4 mg is usually prescribed 3 times a day.
In case of functional liver disorders, the dose of the drug should be reduced.
Systematic monitoring of the condition of elderly patients during therapy is recommended.
5 ml of syrup corresponds to 2 mg of Peritol.
Pills
Recommended dosage regimen for children (daily dose):
- 2-3 years: 0.25 mg/kg;
- 3-6 years: 4-6 mg in 2-3 doses, maximum – 12 mg; for anorexia – from 6 to 8 (maximum) mg in 3 divided doses;
- 7-14 years: 8-12 mg in 2-3 doses, maximum – 16 mg.
The adult daily dose is usually 12 mg in 3 divided doses.
Dosage regimen depending on the disease (daily dose):
- Chronic urticaria: 1/2 tablet 3 times a day;
- Anorexia: 1 tablet 3 times a day;
- Acute migraine attacks: 1 tablet once. If there is no effect, a single dose can be taken again after 30 minutes. Over 4-6 hours, the total dose of Peritol should not exceed 8 mg.
As a maintenance therapy, 1 tablet is usually prescribed 3 times a day.
What do the doctor's say
Experts often prescribe Peritol for weight gain. How to take the medication is described in the instructions. Doctors say that to treat a mild form of anorexia, it is enough to take 1 tablet three times a day for several weeks. The positive effect of treatment is noticeable the very next day. The patient's appetite increases significantly. Doctors remind you that you should not self-medicate. Otherwise, your low weight will be accompanied by stomach problems.
Most experts leave positive reviews about the drug "Peritol" for weight gain. With the help of tablets you can gain 5-7 kg without any problems. However, timely cessation of therapy is also of great importance. There are cases where, as a result of treatment of exhaustion, problems with excess weight appeared. Along with drug therapy, a balanced diet should be present. We must not forget about moderate physical activity.
Side effects
Syrup
- Cardiovascular system: tachycardia, hypotension;
- Central nervous system: ataxia, drowsiness, headache, visual hallucinations, dizziness, anxiety, tremor;
- Hematopoietic system: leukopenia, hemolytic anemia, agranulocytosis;
- Digestive system: vomiting, nausea, dry mouth, diarrhea;
- Allergic reactions: Quincke's edema, exanthema, urticaria, photosensitivity.
Pills
During therapy, transient drowsiness may develop (in some cases, discontinuation of therapy is required).
Less commonly observed are the development of such adverse reactions as: headache, ataxia, nausea, skin rashes, dry mouth, anxiety, confusion, visual hallucinations, dizziness, agitation.
Indications for use of the drug Peritol
Acute and chronic urticaria, serum sickness, hay fever, vasomotor and allergic rhinitis; allergic reactions that occur when taking medications, exanthema, eczematous, contact dermatitis, neurodermatitis, angioedema, insect bites, carcinoid syndrome, headache of vascular origin (migraine, “histamine” headache). The drug can also be used for anorexia of various origins (anorexia nervosa, idiopathic anorexia), as well as for cachexia (due to an infectious disease, exhaustion, hyperthyroidism).
Overdose
In case of overdose, both depression and stimulation of the central nervous system can occur, sometimes leading to death, especially in infants and children. The main symptoms in pediatric patients include:
- excitation;
- hyperthermia;
- hyperemia of the skin of the face;
- mydriasis and pupillary immobility;
- athetosis;
- hallucinations;
- convulsions;
- vascular collapse;
- coma.
In adults, in this case, psychomotor agitation, convulsions, coma, lethargy, depression, and occasionally skin flushing and hyperthermia are often observed. Gastrointestinal dysfunction and atropine-like effects are possible.
In case of overdose in patients who remain conscious, it is necessary to induce vomiting using ipecac preparations (if it does not occur spontaneously). For patients in a faint state, the stomach is immediately washed with a semi-isotonic or isotonic sodium chloride solution and activated charcoal is subsequently prescribed. For hypotension, vasoconstrictor drugs are used as indicated. Taking analeptics and psychostimulants is contraindicated. It is very important to avoid overdose of Peritol in infants and children.
Overdose of the drug Peritol, symptoms and treatment
Symptoms: in children - excessive agitation, anxiety, hallucinations, convulsions. In adults - depression, coma, sometimes psychomotor agitation, convulsions. Treatment: gastric lavage, use of activated carbon; with the development of pronounced atropine-like effects - parenteral administration of physostigmine salicylate solution; according to indications - vasoconstrictor and anticonvulsants. Artificial ventilation and other resuscitation measures.
special instructions
When treating children and elderly patients, special attention is required, since this group of patients is more sensitive to the side effects of antihistamines.
Caution must be observed when prescribing cyproheptadine to patients with cardiovascular diseases, as well as in the presence of anamnestic indications of bronchial asthma, hyperthyroidism or arterial hypertension.
Drinking alcoholic beverages during therapy is contraindicated.
When carrying out complex preoperative preparation of patients, Peritol under the strict supervision of a physician can be used simultaneously with narcotic analgesics, anxiolytics (cyproheptadine potentiates the effect of jointly used drugs and prevents the development of undesirable effects of histamine (in the form of arterial hypotension, bronchospasm), which is released during surgery as a result of tissue trauma organism).
1 tablet contains 128 mg of lactose, which should be taken into account in patients with lactase deficiency, galactosemia or glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome.
While using Peritol in any dosage form, you should not drive vehicles and equipment, as well as perform work associated with increased risk.
Drug interactions
When using certain drugs/substances in combination, the following effects may be observed:
- Fluoxetine and other neuronal serotonin reuptake inhibitors: decreased effectiveness of antidepressants;
- Caffeine, phenamine: reducing the inhibitory effect of cyproheptadine on the central nervous system;
- Ethanol, hypnotics, sedatives, anxiolytics and other substances that depress the central nervous system: additive effect (continuous monitoring of the patient’s condition is required, if necessary, therapy is canceled);
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, as well as tricyclic antidepressants: prolongation and enhancement of the m-anticholinergic effect of cyproheptadine and increased inhibitory effects on the central nervous system (combined use with monoamine oxidase inhibitors is contraindicated).
Reviews of Peritol
At the moment, there are both positive and negative reviews about Peritol as an antiallergic drug. It has been proven that cyproheptadine has a strong effect on most body systems and, if the treatment regimen is followed, demonstrates good treatment results, however, an overdose or non-compliance with the rules of administration can lead to undesirable consequences.
In addition, Peritol is used for weight gain. In this case, its use should be combined with the consumption of high-calorie and easily digestible foods, and the possible development of side effects must be taken into account.
It is recommended to take cyproheptadine only as prescribed by a doctor and strictly when indicated. Self-treatment will not only not be successful, but can also cause health problems.
Contraindications
Only after carefully studying the instructions can you use the drug "Peritol" for weight gain. Reviews from experts show that the medicine has many contraindications. The medication is not prescribed for diseases such as angle-closure glaucoma, prostatic hyperplasia, and heart failure. The drug is prescribed with caution for urinary retention, as well as a predisposition to edema.
During pregnancy and lactation, the medicine can be used only if the expected benefit to the mother outweighs the possible harm to the baby. Weight gain pills are not prescribed for children under two years of age. A contraindication is also the presence of hypersensitivity to one of the components.
