Peritol 4 mg Tablet

Peritol 4 mg Tablet – Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride IP 4 mg by Themis

Peritol from Themis Medicare is an uncoated tablet of Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride IP 4 mg, a first-generation antihistamine. Its unusual reputation comes from doing two things at once. Like other older antihistamines it blocks H1 histamine receptors, which is what relieves itching, hives and allergic rash – and, because it crosses into the brain, what makes it sedating. But cyproheptadine is also a serotonin antagonist, and serotonin is one of the brain’s appetite-suppressing signals. Block it and appetite rises. That second property is why a drug developed for allergy became widely used as an appetite stimulant, and why it needs a clear-eyed approach: it does increase appetite, but it does nothing about why appetite was low. The pack carries two cautions – that it may impair alertness, and that it is dangerous to take except under medical supervision. Strip of 10 tablets.

Key Features

• Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride IP 4 mg, uncoated tablets
• Blocks H1 histamine receptors for allergy and itching
• Also a serotonin antagonist, which is why it increases appetite
• The pack warns it may impair alertness – avoid driving
• Strip of 10 tablets from Themis Medicare Limited

Composition

• Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride IP – 4 mg
• Uncoated tablet. Excipients q.s. As printed on the strip

Uses & Benefits

• Relieves the itching, rash, hives and swelling of allergic reactions
• Used for allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis and skin allergies as prescribed
• Helps with itching from insect bites and some cold-related allergic symptoms
• Blocks histamine at H1 receptors and also blocks serotonin, which is why it increases appetite
• Prescribed under supervision as an appetite stimulant in selected cases
• A long-established first-generation antihistamine with decades of clinical use

Directions for Use

• Take it exactly as your doctor directs. The pack states 4 mg three to four times a day, but the dose is set by your doctor and is lower in children and the elderly
• Swallow the tablet with water. It may be taken with or without food; with food if it upsets your stomach
• Take the largest dose at bedtime if drowsiness is a problem, on your doctor’s advice
• Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how it affects you
• Do not take it for longer than your doctor advises

Precautions

• This drug causes drowsiness. The pack advises avoiding driving and operating machinery after taking it. Do not combine it with alcohol, sedatives or sleeping tablets
• Not for children under 2 years, and not for frail or elderly patients, in whom antihistamines of this class cause confusion, falls and urinary retention
• Avoid if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, an enlarged prostate or difficulty passing urine, a bladder-neck or bowel obstruction, or a stomach ulcer with narrowing
• Do not take it with, or within 14 days of, an MAOI antidepressant. Tell your doctor about every medicine you take
• Dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, dizziness and increased appetite are the usual effects. Report difficulty passing urine, a fast or irregular heartbeat, or confusion
• Using it to gain weight is not a substitute for finding out why appetite or weight is low. Unexplained weight loss needs investigation, and any use for appetite should be a doctor’s decision, time-limited and monitored

Storage

• Store below 30°C, protected from light, as printed on the strip
• Keep the tablets in the blister until use
• Keep out of reach of children

Disclaimer

Prescription medicine – the pack states it is dangerous to take this preparation except under medical supervision. This information is for general awareness and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Cyproheptadine causes drowsiness and should not be taken for appetite or weight gain except on a doctor’s advice.