Re: periactin side effects

[Guest guest]

Simone,

THere was a HUGE debate a few weeks ago regarding the use of herbal,

homeopathic appetite stimulants

message nos 15150 - 15499 seemed to cover most of it - just skim

through the subject lines to find the relevant ones.

As for side effects with periactin - Finlay didn't have side effects -

so hopefuly someone else will reply directly to this

Also when reading the advice re herbs and conventional meds - bear in

mind NONE of the posts were from drs just lay people so nothing can

be guaranteed to be completely accurate.....

Good Luck

[Guest guest]

Hi Simone,

Periactin is the trade name for cyproheptadine. It is an

anithisamine. As you probably know from experience, antihistamine

can make you drowsy and irritable. If you have some Benadryl at

home look on the box (bottle) for its side effects.

There are others but I don't remeber them right now.

I hope this helps.

Ken M

> Could anybody tell me what the side effects are of Periactin?

> It probably has been answered before butI tried to search the

archive

> on " periactin " but couldn't find an answer quickly.

> Maerega is seeing the peadiatrician in October and maybe its wise to

> start her on Periactin (or on something similar)

>

> What is the alternative? Something herbal or homeopathic?

>

> Simone Price (Maerega 2.5 yrs old, 8 kg, 79cm)

[Guest guest]

Hi Simone,

This is just our experience - not medical knowledge. Tyler has been

more irritable and easily frustrated - throws more tantrums and is

more persistent about complaining when he doesn't get what he wants.

He doesn't sleep longer, but I think some of his irritability comes

from being hungry (a new sensation) and tired. He eats more, but if

he's busy, he'd rather keep playing than eat to get rid of his

hunger - which of course keeps him grumpy. However, many of these

negative side-effects are seen in lots of 2 year-olds.

On the positive side, he's in a good mood most of the time, his

appetite has improved and he has gained weight. We're going to keep

using it at this stage because some of the side-effects are getting

better. But we'll reassess it every 3-6 months depending on his

weight gain and mood swings. Our doctor suggested taking him off it

for a week to see how his personality changes. We may do this, but I

think it would be too disruptive. I'd rather wean him off slowly

after he's gained a few more kgs.

One other note, although his appetite has improved, his weight gain

seems to come from more than just an increase in caloric intake. I

wonder if the medication changes the way the body metabolizes the

food (you know what I mean - people can eat the same amount of food,

but how much weight a person gains depends in large part on their

personal metabolism).

(Tyler, 2.5 yrs, 20.5 lbs, 32.5 " , and , 15 mos)

[Guest guest]

ok thank you v. much, will check it out.

> Simone,

> THere was a HUGE debate a few weeks ago regarding the use of

herbal,

> homeopathic appetite stimulants

> message nos 15150 - 15499 seemed to cover most of it - just skim

> through the subject lines to find the relevant ones.

> As for side effects with periactin - Finlay didn't have side

effects -

> so hopefuly someone else will reply directly to this

> Also when reading the advice re herbs and conventional meds - bear

in

> mind NONE of the posts were from drs just lay people so nothing can

> be guaranteed to be completely accurate.....

> Good Luck

>

[Guest guest]

thanks a lot Ken,

have to get my dictionary out though. don't know the dutch words for

antihistamine..(is it like peniciline?, probably not)

don't drive and drink while using it? (joke)

Simone

> > Could anybody tell me what the side effects are of Periactin?

> > It probably has been answered before butI tried to search the

> archive

> > on " periactin " but couldn't find an answer quickly.

> > Maerega is seeing the peadiatrician in October and maybe its wise

to

> > start her on Periactin (or on something similar)

> >

> > What is the alternative? Something herbal or homeopathic?

> >

> > Simone Price (Maerega 2.5 yrs old, 8 kg, 79cm)

[Guest guest]

Hello, thank you for your answer.

I understand the side effects are different for each child.

Maerega is eating ok in the day but her evening meal is a big

problem. And also her sandwich for lunch: half of it she eats , the

rest we have to give to her while playing or while she is busy doing

something else. She is 2 years old also so if she says NO it is NO

and its hard to get her to eat. So thats why I thought the periactin

might be a good idea? Don't even know if the pediatrician here thinks

the same but I will suggest it or ask him about it.

Thanks again.

Simone (Maerega 2.5 yrs old, 79 cm, 8 kg)

> Hi Simone,

>

> This is just our experience - not medical knowledge. Tyler has

been

> more irritable and easily frustrated - throws more tantrums and is

> more persistent about complaining when he doesn't get what he

wants.

>

> He doesn't sleep longer, but I think some of his irritability comes

> from being hungry (a new sensation) and tired. He eats more, but

if

> he's busy, he'd rather keep playing than eat to get rid of his

> hunger - which of course keeps him grumpy. However, many of these

> negative side-effects are seen in lots of 2 year-olds.

>

> On the positive side, he's in a good mood most of the time, his

> appetite has improved and he has gained weight. We're going to

keep

> using it at this stage because some of the side-effects are getting

> better. But we'll reassess it every 3-6 months depending on his

> weight gain and mood swings. Our doctor suggested taking him off

it

> for a week to see how his personality changes. We may do this, but

I

> think it would be too disruptive. I'd rather wean him off slowly

> after he's gained a few more kgs.

>

> One other note, although his appetite has improved, his weight gain

> seems to come from more than just an increase in caloric intake. I

> wonder if the medication changes the way the body metabolizes the

> food (you know what I mean - people can eat the same amount of

food,

> but how much weight a person gains depends in large part on their

> personal metabolism).

>

> (Tyler, 2.5 yrs, 20.5 lbs, 32.5 " , and , 15 mos)

[Guest guest]

HI Simone,

Antihistamines can be bought at a local pharmacy for allerigies and

hay fever. A popular one in the US is Benadryl.

Yes, do not take some and drive. It is a warning printed on the label.

(NO Kidding).

Some people take antihistamine when they have trouble sleeping

although this is not their intended use.

Another side affect is they can make you dehydrated. We noticed

drank a lot when he first started.

I hope this helps.

Ken M

> > > Could anybody tell me what the side effects are of Periactin?

> > > It probably has been answered before butI tried to search the

> > archive

> > > on " periactin " but couldn't find an answer quickly.

> > > Maerega is seeing the peadiatrician in October and maybe its

wise

> to

> > > start her on Periactin (or on something similar)

> > >

> > > What is the alternative? Something herbal or homeopathic?

> > >

> > > Simone Price (Maerega 2.5 yrs old, 8 kg, 79cm)

[Guest guest]

Hi Simone (again),

Even with periactin, we have to keep distracted to get him to

eat. We are always running around the house chasing him with food.

We have tried getting him to sit at the table to eat. Big time bad

idea !!

Ken M

> > Hi Simone,

> >

> > This is just our experience - not medical knowledge. Tyler has

> been

> > more irritable and easily frustrated - throws more tantrums and is

> > more persistent about complaining when he doesn't get what he

> wants.

> >

> > He doesn't sleep longer, but I think some of his irritability

comes

> > from being hungry (a new sensation) and tired. He eats more, but

> if

> > he's busy, he'd rather keep playing than eat to get rid of his

> > hunger - which of course keeps him grumpy. However, many of these

> > negative side-effects are seen in lots of 2 year-olds.

> >

> > On the positive side, he's in a good mood most of the time, his

> > appetite has improved and he has gained weight. We're going to

> keep

> > using it at this stage because some of the side-effects are

getting

> > better. But we'll reassess it every 3-6 months depending on his

> > weight gain and mood swings. Our doctor suggested taking him off

> it

> > for a week to see how his personality changes. We may do this,

but

> I

> > think it would be too disruptive. I'd rather wean him off slowly

> > after he's gained a few more kgs.

> >

> > One other note, although his appetite has improved, his weight

gain

> > seems to come from more than just an increase in caloric intake.

I

> > wonder if the medication changes the way the body metabolizes the

> > food (you know what I mean - people can eat the same amount of

> food,

> > but how much weight a person gains depends in large part on their

> > personal metabolism).

> >

> > (Tyler, 2.5 yrs, 20.5 lbs, 32.5 " , and , 15 mos)