Practin Syrup

Practin Syrup – Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride 2 mg/5 ml by Dr Reddy’s, 200 ml

Practin Syrup from Dr Reddy’s is Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride Syrup IP, 2 mg per 5 ml, in a 200 ml bottle. The liquid form exists mainly because the patients it is prescribed for are often children, and a syrup solves a problem a tablet cannot: dosing by weight. A 4 mg tablet cannot be split reliably below halves, but a syrup at 2 mg per 5 ml can be measured to a millilitre, which matters when the correct dose for a small child may be a fraction of an adult one. Cyproheptadine is a first-generation antihistamine – it relieves itching, hives and allergic rash by blocking histamine, and it sedates because it crosses into the brain. It is also a serotonin antagonist, which is why it increases appetite and why it is often requested for that. Whatever the reason for the prescription, the dose in a child should be set by a doctor. Bottle of 200 ml.

Key Features

• Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride Syrup IP 2 mg per 5 ml
• A liquid, so the dose can be measured precisely by a child’s weight
• Antihistamine for itching, hives and allergic rash
• Also a serotonin antagonist, which is why it raises appetite
• Bottle of 200 ml from Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd.

Composition

• Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride IP – 2 mg per 5 ml
• Syrup base and excipients q.s. As printed on the pack

Uses & Benefits

• Relieves itching, rash, hives and swelling in allergic reactions
• Used for allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis and skin allergies as prescribed
• A liquid, so the dose can be adjusted precisely for a child’s weight
• Blocks histamine H1 receptors and also serotonin, which is why it raises appetite
• Prescribed under supervision as an appetite stimulant in selected cases
• Easier to give than a tablet to a young child

Directions for Use

• Shake the bottle well before every dose
• Measure the dose with the measuring cup or spoon supplied – never a kitchen spoon
• Give it exactly as the doctor prescribes. Doses in children are calculated by weight and age, not by a standard spoonful
• It may be given with or without food; with food if it upsets the stomach
• Keep the bottle tightly closed, and do not use it beyond the period stated after opening

Precautions

• This causes drowsiness. Do not drive or operate machinery after a dose, and do not combine it with alcohol or other sedatives
• 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 in narrow-angle glaucoma, enlarged prostate or difficulty passing urine, bladder-neck or bowel obstruction, or a stomach ulcer with narrowing
• Do not give it with, or within 14 days of, an MAOI antidepressant. Tell your doctor about every medicine being taken
• Dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, dizziness and increased appetite are the usual effects. Report difficulty passing urine, a fast heartbeat or confusion
• A child who is not eating or not growing needs a diagnosis, not just an appetite stimulant. Any use for appetite should be a doctor’s decision, time-limited and monitored

Storage

• Store below 30°C in a cool, dry place, protected from light
• Keep the bottle tightly closed and shake before each dose
• Keep out of reach of children

Disclaimer

Prescription medicine – to be sold by retail on the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner only. Cyproheptadine causes drowsiness. This information is for general awareness and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be given to a child for appetite or weight gain except on a doctor’s advice.