Cyproheptadine
Also known as: Periactin, Ciplactin, Cyheptine, Cyprogin, Cyprono, Cyprosian, Klarivitina, Nuran, Periactine, Periactinol, Periatin, Peritol, Polytab, Practin, Preptin, Supersan, Trimetabol
Cyproheptadine is a medication often used to stimulate appetite in cats, or to treat specific allergic or neurologic conditions in pets. **What to Expect:** * **Sedation:** Your pet may become sleepy or lethargic. This is the most common side effect. * **Dry Mouth:** You may notice your pet smacking their lips or drinking more water due to dry mucous membranes. **Important Warnings:** * **The "Zoomies" (Paradoxical Agitation):** Some cats react oppositely to this medication and become highly agitated, vocal, or hyperactive. **Contact your veterinarian** if this occurs, as the dose may need to be lowered or stopped. * **Seek Immediate Care If:** Your cat becomes profoundly weak, unresponsive, or develops pale gums. * **Horses:** May show mild depression, loss of appetite, or lethargy. * **Missed Doses:** If you miss a dose, give it when you remember, but never give two doses at once to catch up.
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
What it is used for
- As an appetite stimulant
- As an appetite stimulant
- As an appetite stimulant
- As an appetite stimulant
- As an appetite stimulant in cats with renal insufficiency
- As an antihistamine/antipruritic
- As an antihistamine/antipruritic
- For feline asthma
- For adjunctive treatment of serotonin syndrome
- Management of allergic disease / Appetite stimulation / Aortic thromboembolism
- For photic head shaking
- For photic head shaking
- For treatment of equine Cushing's
How it is given
Possible side effects
- Sedation / CNS depression
- Paradoxical hyperexcitability or agitation (especially in cats)
- Anticholinergic effects (dry mucous membranes, urinary retention, tachycardia)
- Hemolytic anemia in cats (rare)
- Polyphagia (in dogs at higher doses)
- Mild depression, anorexia, or lethargy (in horses)
- Mild sedation
- Polyphagia
- Weight gain
- Reduced seizure threshold
Cautions & contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to cyproheptadine
- Prostatic hypertrophy
- Bladder neck obstruction
- Severe cardiac failure
- Angle-closure glaucoma
- Pyeloduodenal obstruction
- Urinary retention (relative)
- Angle-closure glaucoma (relative)
- Pyloroduodenal obstruction (relative)
- Use with caution in patients with conditions exacerbated by anticholinergic effects (e.g., glaucoma, urinary retention, GI stasis). **Laboratory Considerations:** * **Allergy Testing:** Antihistamines decrease the wheal and flare response. Discontinue 3-7 days prior to intradermal skin testing. * **Endocrine Testing:** May increase amylase and prolactin serum levels when administered with thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH).
Drug interactions
- CNS Depressants (barbiturates, tranquilizers, etc.): Additive CNS depression
- SSRIs (sertraline, fluoxetine, paroxetine, etc.): Cyproheptadine may decrease the efficacy of the SSRI due to its serotonin antagonist properties
Frequently asked questions
What is Cyproheptadine used for in pets?
Cyproheptadine is a medication often used to stimulate appetite in cats, or to treat specific allergic or neurologic conditions in pets. **What to Expect:** * **Sedation:** Your pet may become sleepy or lethargic. This is the most common side effect. * **Dry Mouth:** You may notice your pet smacking their lips or drinking more water due to dry mucous membranes. **Important Warnings:** * **The "Zoomies" (Paradoxical Agitation):** Some cats react oppositely to this medication and become highly agitated, vocal, or hyperactive. **Contact your veterinarian** if this occurs, as the dose may need to be lowered or stopped. * **Seek Immediate Care If:** Your cat becomes profoundly weak, unresponsive, or develops pale gums. * **Horses:** May show mild depression, loss of appetite, or lethargy. * **Missed Doses:** If you miss a dose, give it when you remember, but never give two doses at once to catch up.
Is Cyproheptadine safe for my pet?
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell, please consult a veterinarian.
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