Main Use Active Ingredient Manufacturer
Allergies, Migraine Cyproheptadine hydrochloride. Merck Sharp & Dohme
How does it work?
Cyproheptadine belongs to a group of medicines called antihistamines.
Histamine is released when the body responds to an allergen (e.g. pollen, cat hair, bird feathers. It binds to receptors (H-1 receptors) causing a range of effects, including, widening of small blood vessels in the nose and eyes and contraction of the muscles of the gastro-intestinal and respiratory tracts. These effects are responsible for the characteristic symptoms of allergies(such as inflammation of the skin, airways or tissues, rashes, itching of the skin, eyes or nose, nasal congestion or narrowing of the airways).
Cyproheptadine blocks the action of histamine on H1 receptors, thereby relieving the symptoms of allergic reactions.
Cyproheptadine is also used in the prevention or treatment of migraine headaches. It is not fully understood how it works in this condition. In addition to blocking the actions of histamine, it blocks the action of a chemical in the brain called serotonin. These chemicals are involved in migraine.
Cyproheptadine is called a sedating anti-histamine as it enters the brain in significant quantities and is therefore more likely to cause drowsiness than the newer group of non-sedating anti-histamines.
What is it used for?
Follow-up treatment for a severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction)
Migraine
Sudden or ongoing conditions caused by allergy (e.g. itchy rash or nasal congestion)
Sudden or ongoing conditions causing itch (e.g allergy or chickenpox virus)
Warning!
This medicine may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery. Alcohol should be avoided.
This medicine may cause excitation in young children.
This medicine has no recommended dose for children under 2 years of age.
This medicine should not be used to treat the symptoms of lower airway illnesses such as asthma.
Use with caution in
Not to be used in
Blockage of the area where the stomach joins the intestines (pyloro-duodenal obstruction)
Blockage of the drainage passage of the bladder (bladder neck obstruction)
Breastfeeding
Conditions that cause difficulty passing urine or urine retention, eg enlarged prostate gland
Elderly incapacitated people
Glaucoma
Known sensitivity or allergy to any ingredient
People currently taking monoamine-oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressants
Peptic ulcer causing narrowing of an area of the gut passage (stenosing peptic ulcer)
Premature or new-born babies
Sudden asthma attack
Symptoms of an enlarged prostate (symptomatic prostatic hypertrophy)
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
This medicine should be used with caution during pregnancy, and only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than any possible risk to the foetus. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
As there is no safety information available, the manufacturer does not recommend the use of this medicine when breastfeeding. Alternatively, if this medicine must be used, the mother should not breastfeed. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
Label warnings
This medication may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery. Avoid alcoholic drink.
Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
Blurred vision
Difficulty in passing urine (urinary retention)
Dry mouth
Drowsiness
Confusion
Blood disorders
Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
Awareness of your heart beat (heart palpitations)
Low blood pressure (hypotension)
Dizziness
Sleepiness (somnolence)
Irritability
Wheezing or difficulty in breathing
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.
For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.
How can this medicine affect other medicines?
There may be an increase in sedation when cyproheptadine is taken with alcohol or other sedating medicines such as anti-anxiety medcines, hypnotics, sedatives or tranquillisers).
Monoamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressants (such as phenelzine) prolong and intensify the anti-cholinergic effects of antihistamines, such as, dry mouth, blurred vision and constipation.
Other medicines containing the same active ingredients
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