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Cyproheptadine Coupon - Cyproheptadine 4mg tablet

cyproheptadine

Generic Periactin
Used for Allergic Conjunctivitis, Allergic Rhinitis, Anaphylaxis, Hives, Skin Allergy

Cyproheptadine is first-generation antihistamine. It's taken by children and adults to treat allergy symptoms, such as sneezing, stuffy or runny nose, and itchy eyes or skin. It works by blocking histamine, a substance in your body that's created during an allergic reaction. Cyproheptadine is taken by mouth, typically 2 to 3 times a day. Some common side effects of this medication includes sleepiness and dizziness.

Reviewed by:
reviewerKristianne Hannemann, PharmD
reviewerConnie Zheng, PharmD
Last reviewed on October 5, 2023
basics-icon

What is Cyproheptadine?

What is Cyproheptadine used for?

  • Year-round and seasonal allergies
  • Sneezing, stuffy, or runny nose not caused by allergies or infections (vasomotor rhinitis)
  • Eye allergies
  • Mild skin allergies
  • Allergic reactions to blood or the liquid part of blood (plasma)
  • Skin reactions due to exposure to cold temperatures (cold urticaria)
  • Allergic reactions when skin is scratched (dermatographia)
  • Add-on therapy for severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis)

How Cyproheptadine works

Cyproheptadine is first-generation antihistamine. It works by blocking histamine, which is a chemical in your body that's released during an allergic reaction. Blocking histamine helps ease allergy symptoms, such as sneezing, stuffy or runny nose, and itchy eyes or skin.

Cyproheptadine also has anticholinergic effects, which can cause symptoms such as constipation, dry eyes, and difficulty urinating.

When does Cyproheptadine start working?Time passed since treatment started:
HOURS
Full effect
DAYS
WEEKS
MONTHS

Drug facts

Common BrandsPeriactin(brand no longer available)
Drug ClassAntihistamine
Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication
Generic StatusLower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only
side-effects-icon

Side effects of Cyproheptadine

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

  • Sleepiness
  • Dizziness
  • Loss of coordination
  • Confusion
  • Blurred vision
  • Low blood pressure
  • Difficulty urinating
  • Dryness of nose, throat, and mouth

Less Common Side Effects

  • Restlessness
  • Tremor
  • Hallucinations
  • Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
  • Excitement
  • Rash
  • Fast heartbeat
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Weight gain

Cyproheptadine serious side effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.

  • Signs of overdose: hallucinations, slow brain function, seizures, fast heartbeat, wide pupils, breathing problems
  • Excessive sleepiness or dizziness
When do Cyproheptadine possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
M
H
D
W
M
Sleepiness
Dizziness
Dry mouth

Source: DailyMed

The following Cyproheptadine side effects have also been reported

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common or rare

Less common or rare with azatadine, cetirizine, clemastine, cyproheptadine, desloratadine, dexchlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, or loratadine

Abdominal or stomach pain

burning

chills

clay-colored stools or dark urine

cough

diarrhea

difficulty swallowing

dizziness

fast or irregular heartbeat

fever

headache

hives

itching

prickly sensations

puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips or tongue

redness of skin

seizures

shortness of breath

skin rash

swelling

tightness in chest

tingling

unusual tiredness or weakness

wheezing

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common or rare

Sore throat

unusual bleeding or bruising

unusual tiredness or weakness

Symptoms of overdose

Clumsiness or unsteadiness

convulsions (seizures)

drowsiness (severe)

dryness of mouth, nose, or throat (severe)

feeling faint

flushing or redness of face

hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there)

shortness of breath or troubled breathing

trouble in sleeping

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Drowsiness

dry mouth, nose, or throat

gastrointestinal upset, stomach pain, or nausea

headache

increased appetite and weight gain

thickening of mucus

Less common or rare

Acid or sour stomach

belching

blurred vision or any change in vision

body aches or pain

clumsiness or unsteadiness

confusion (not with diphenhydramine)

congestion

constipation

cough

diarrhea

difficult or painful urination

difficulty in moving

difficult or painful menstruation

dizziness (not with brompheniramine or hydroxyzine)

drowsiness (with high doses of desloratadine and loratadine)

dryness of mouth, nose, or throat

early menstruation

fast heartbeat

fever

heartburn

hoarseness

increased sensitivity of skin to sun

increased sweating

indigestion

loss of appetite

joint pain

muscle aching or cramping

muscle pains or stiffness

nausea

nightmares (not with azatadine, chlorpheniramine, cyproheptadine, desloratadine, hydroxyzine, or loratadine)

ringing or buzzing in ears

runny nose

skin rash

swollen joints

stomach discomfort, upset or pain

tender swollen glands in neck

tremor

unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability

vomiting

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See more Cyproheptadine side effects
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pros-and-cons-icon

Pros and cons of Cyproheptadine

Pros

  • Can be taken by adults and children as young as 2 years old
  • Comes in both tablet and liquid forms
  • Taken by mouth

Cons

  • Taken 2 to 3 times a day
  • Can cause a lot of drowsiness
  • Might cause more side effects for older adults
pharmacist-tips-icon

Pharmacist tips for Cyproheptadine

pharmacist
  • Since cyproheptadine can cause dizziness and sleepiness, avoid any activities that require you to be alert, such as driving a car or operating machinery, until you know how this medication affects you.
  • Avoid drinking alcohol while taking cyproheptadine because alcohol can worsen the medication's side effects, including dizziness, sleepiness, and loss of coordination (unable to control movement).
  • Let your provider know if there are any important changes in your weight because cyproheptadine is sometimes dosed based on body weight.
  • If you're taking the liquid (solution or syrup) version of cyproheptadine, measure your dose carefully with the dosing device or syringe provided to prevent overdose. Don't use a household measuring spoon because it won't be accurate.
  • Keep cyproheptadine out of reach from children because overdose is more harmful in infants and young children. Also, cyproheptadine shouldn't be used in children under 2 years old.
Common questions about Cyproheptadine

Common questions about Cyproheptadine

Like some other antihistamines, Cyproheptadine can cause weight gain as a side effect. While the exact reason this happens isn't well understood, Cyproheptadine is thought to cause weight gain because it makes you feel more hungry. Because of this, some studies have looked at whether or not works well to improve appetite, but more research is needed in this area. If you've questions about Cyproheptadine and weight gain, talk with your provider.

Drowsiness is a common side effect of first-generation antihistamines like Cyproheptadine. This might come and go while you're taking this medication, so be careful before driving or performing activities that require you to be alert.

In general, Cyproheptadine is safe if you take it as directed by your provider. But if you've certain medication conditions (e.g., bladder or prostate problems, glaucoma, stomach ulcer), you should discuss those with your provider first. This is because Cyproheptadine can make some health conditions worse. Older adults have a higher risk of side effects from antihistamines, such as dizziness, sleepiness, or low blood pressure. Because of this, your provider might have to start you on a lower dose.

No, Cyproheptadine is only available with a prescription from your healthcare provider. It isn't sold over the counter like some other antihistamines.

No. Cyproheptadine isn't a controlled substance and isn't known to be addictive.

There isn't enough information to know if Cyproheptadine raises the risk of miscarriage. If you're pregnant, talk to your provider about which antihistamines are safest for you to use to treat your allergy symptoms.

It's not known if Cyproheptadine passes into breast milk. But if it does, it can cause side effects in breastfed babies. In addition, research suggest Cyproheptadine can also affect your breast milk production. If you're breastfeeding, talk to your provider about safer medications during this time.

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Risks and warnings for Cyproheptadine

Cyproheptadine can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

Effects in young children

Antihistamines, including cyproheptadine, might make young children less alert. Occasionally, it can have the opposite effect and cause them to be really excited.

In addition, taking too much cyproheptadine can be more harmful in infants and young children. For children ages two and older, always measure the dose carefully to prevent overdose. Overdose symptoms of antihistamines can include hallucinations, extreme sleepiness, and seizures. Children under 2 years old shouldn't take cyproheptadine because it's not known if it's safe or effective for this age group.

Extreme sleepiness

  • Risk factors: Taking cyproheptadine with alcohol or other medications that slow down your brain function | Older adults

Cyproheptadine can make you less alert, which can affect activities such as driving or operating machinery. Sometimes, this side effect can last for hours after a dose. Taking cyproheptadine together with alcohol or other medications that also make you less alert (e.g., hypnotics, sedatives, tranquilizers, antianxiety medications) can raise the risk of having slower brain function. Older adults are more likely to experience side effects, like dizziness, sleepiness, and low blood pressure.

Caution in other health conditions

Cyproheptadine can worsen certain conditions, such as asthma, high eye pressure, overactive thyroid, heart conditions, or high blood pressure. Let your provider know if you have any of those conditions before starting this medication.

dosage-icon

Cyproheptadine dosage

The average cost for 30 tablets of 4mg of Cyproheptadine is $11.51 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 68.34% off the average retail price of $36.35.
ml of syrupMl of syrup
DosageQuantityPrice as low asPrice per unit
2mg/5ml300 ml$16.39$0.05
tabletTablet
DosageQuantityPrice as low asPrice per unit
4mg30 tablets$11.51$0.38
See more Cyproheptadine dosage
interactions-icon

Interactions between Cyproheptadine and other drugs

Cyproheptadine may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Cyproheptadine. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking any of these medicines, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with a medication in this class or change some of the other medicines you take.

Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

See more Cyproheptadine interactions
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How much does Cyproheptadine cost?

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contraindications-icon

Cyproheptadine contraindications

Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Cyproheptadine will not be safe for you to take.

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What are alternatives to Cyproheptadine?

There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Cyproheptadine. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
Cyproheptadine
Used for:
  • Year-round and seasonal allergies
  • Sneezing, stuffy, or runny nose not caused by allergies or infections (vasomotor rhinitis)
  • Eye allergies
  • Mild skin allergies
  • Allergic reactions to blood or the liquid part of blood (plasma)
  • Skin reactions due to exposure to cold temperatures (cold urticaria)
  • Allergic reactions when skin is scratched (dermatographia)
  • Add-on therapy for severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis)
$11.51Lowest GoodRx priceView prices
Used for:
  • Short-term relief of allergy or common cold symptoms (runny nose, sneezing, itchy nose or throat, and itchy or watery eyes) - people 6 years and older
  • Occasional trouble sleeping - people 12 years and older
$2.52Lowest GoodRx priceView prices
Used for:
  • Short-term relief of allergy symptoms (sneezing, runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, itching of the nose or throat)
  • Relief of itchiness due to chronic (long-term) hives in children ages 6 months to under 6 years old - certain liquid solutions only
$3.09Lowest GoodRx priceView prices
images-icon

Cyproheptadine images

White Round Cor 150 - Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride 4mg Tablet
This medicine is White, Round, Scored Tablet Imprinted With "Cor 150".White Round Cor 150 - Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride 4mg Tablet
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This medicine is White, Round, Scored Tablet Imprinted With "Z 2929".White Round Z 2929 - Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride 4mg Tablet
White Round It 68 - Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride 4mg Tablet
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This medicine is White, Round, Scored Tablet Imprinted With "4 9".White Round 4 9 - Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride 4mg Tablet
White Round Cyp - Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride 4mg Tablet
This medicine is White, Round, Scored Tablet Imprinted With "Cyp".White Round Cyp - Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride 4mg Tablet
White Round Ce 73 - Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride 4mg Tablet
This medicine is White, Round, Scored Tablet Imprinted With "Ce 73".White Round Ce 73 - Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride 4mg Tablet
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This medicine is White, Round, Scored Tablet Imprinted With "11 10".White Round 11 10 - Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride 4mg Tablet
White Round B137 - Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride 4mg Tablet
This medicine is White, Round, Scored Tablet Imprinted With "B137".White Round B137 - Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride 4mg Tablet

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References

Best studies we found

Broderick, E.D., et al. (2023). Anticholinergic Toxicity. StatPearls.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Spoons are for soup, milliliters are for medicine.

Chartwell RX, LLC. (2023). Cyproheptadine hydrochloride tablet [package insert]. DailyMed.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

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