Cyproheptadine is used for:

• Treating allergy symptoms (seasonal and year-round) and mild, uncomplicated hives. It may also be used to treat certain conditions as determined by your doctor that may not be listed in the professional package insert.
• Cyproheptadine is an antihistamine. It works by blocking the action of histamine and reducing the symptoms of an allergic reaction.
• Cyproheptadine may also be used to combat SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction.

Do NOT use Cyproheptadine if:

• • you are allergic to any ingredient in Cyproheptadine
  • you are breast-feeding
  • you are taking or have taken monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors within the last 14 days
  • you have narrow-angle glaucoma, peptic ulcer, an enlarged prostate, an obstruction of the urinary tract, or you are elderly and debilitated
• Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Cyproheptadine :

• Some medical conditions may interact with Cyproheptadine . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
  • if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
  • if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
  • if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
  • if you have asthma, glaucoma, difficulty urinating, stomach problems, prostate problems, overactive thyroid, heart disease, high blood pressure, seizures, or a gastric or urinary tract obstruction
• Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Cyproheptadine . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
  • MAO inhibitors (eg, phenelzine) because psychotic reactions may occur
  • Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (eg, fluoxetine) because their effectiveness may be decreased
• This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Cyproheptadine may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Cyproheptadine :

• Use Cyproheptadine as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
  • Cyproheptadine may be taken with food if it upsets your stomach.
  • If you miss a dose of Cyproheptadine , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
• Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Cyproheptadine .

Important safety information:

• Cyproheptadine may cause drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, or lightheadedness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Cyproheptadine . Using Cyproheptadine alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• Limit your alcohol consumption while you are taking Cyproheptadine . Cyproheptadine will add to the effects of alcohol and other depressants. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines are depressants.
• Sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Also, sit or lie down at the first sign of dizziness, lightheadedness, or weakness.
• Cyproheptadine may cause increased sensitivity to the sun. Avoid exposure to the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to Cyproheptadine . Use a sunscreen or protective clothing if you must be outside for a prolonged period.
• Cyproheptadine can affect the results of allergy tests and certain lab tests (eg, pituitary-adrenal response). Make sure laboratory personnel and your doctors know you are using Cyproheptadine . Consult your doctor for further instructions.
• Use Cyproheptadine with caution in the ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to its effects.
• Do not use Cyproheptadine in infants. Cyproheptadine is not recommended for use in CHILDREN younger than 2 years of age. Safety and effectiveness in this age group have not been confirmed. In young children, Cyproheptadine may cause excitation and seizures.
• . PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using this medicine during pregnancy. It is unknown if Cyproheptadine is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Cyproheptadine .

Possible side effects of Cyproheptadine :

• All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
  • Abnormal skin sensations
  • blurred vision
  • changes in appetite
  • changes in menstrual flow
  • changes in weight
  • chills
  • confusion
  • constipation
  • diarrhea
  • dizziness
  • double vision
  • drowsiness
  • dry mouth, throat, and nose
  • earache
  • early menstruation
  • exaggerated sense of well-being
  • excessive sweating
  • excitation
  • feeling of a whirling motion
  • frequent urination
  • headache
  • incoordination
  • irritability
  • low blood pressure
  • nausea
  • nervousness
  • restlessness
  • ringing in the ears
  • sensitivity to light
  • sleeplessness
  • stuffy nose
  • thickening of the mucus in the nose/throat
  • tightness of chest
  • upset stomach
  • urinary retention
  • vomiting
  • weight gain
  • wheezing.
• Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
  • Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue)
  • convulsions
  • dark urine
  • difficulty urinating
  • hallucinations
  • hysteria
  • mental/mood changes
  • pounding or irregular heartbeat
  • stomach pain
  • unusual tiredness
  • yellowing eyes or skin.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.

Other Useful Information:

Radiation: 1. Rays of energy. Gamma rays and X-rays are two of the types of energy waves often used in medicine. 2. The use of energy waves to diagnose or treat disease.

Replantation: 1. Literally, the act of planting again. 2. In surgery, the restoration of any part of the body to its original site. Also known as reimplantation.

The Chinese surgeon Zhong Wei Chen (1929-2004) was the "father of replantation." Dr. Chen was the first to reattach a severed hand with success which he did in 1963. Dr. Chen also developed many microsurgical procedures including techniques for preserving severed extremities, reattaching amputated fingers and thumbs, reconstructing muscles and repairing nerves and blood vessels.

Rheumatism: Rheumatism is an older term, used to describe any of a number of painful conditions of muscles, tendons, joints, and bones.

Rheumatism conditions have been classified as either localized, regional, or generalized. Localized rheumatism conditions include bursitis and tendinitis. Regional rheumatism conditions include chest wall pain, temporomandibular joint pain, and myofascial pain syndromes. Generalized rheumatism conditions include fibromyalgia.

Another category of rheumatism is psychogenic rheumatism. With this term it is understood that the patient is reporting inconsistent pains of muscles and joints that do not correspond to true anatomy and physiology. The patient is felt to have underlying psychological causes for the symptoms.

Rheumatology: A subspecialty of internal medicine that involves the non-surgical evaluation and treatment of the rheumatic diseases and conditions. Rheumatic diseases and conditions are characterized by symptoms involving the musculoskeletal system. Many of the rheumatic diseases and conditions feature immune system abnormalities. Therefore, rheumatology also involves the study of the immune system. Classical rheumatology training includes 4 years of medical school, 1 year of internship in internal medicine, 2 years of internal medicine residency, and 2 years of rheumatology fellowship. There is a subspecialty board for rheumatology certification. The American College of Rheumatology is the official organization acting on behalf of the field of rheumatology in the United States.

T cell: A type of white blood cell that is of key importance to the immune system and is at the core of adaptive immunity, the system that tailors the body's immune response to specific pathogens. The T cells are like soldiers who search out and destroy the targeted invaders.

Immature T cells (termed T-stem cells) migrate to the thymus gland in the neck, where they mature and differentiate into various types of mature T cells and become active in the immune system in response to a hormone called thymosin and other factors. T-cells that are potentially activated against the body's own tissues are normally killed or changed ("down-regulated") during this maturational process.

There are several different types of mature T cells. Not all of their functions are known. T cells can produce substances called cytokines such as the interleukins which further stimulate the immune response. T-cell activation is measured as a way to assess the health of patients with HIV/AIDS and less frequently in other disorders.

T cell are also known as T lymphocytes. The "T" stands for "thymus" -- the organ in which these cells mature. As opposed to B cells which mature in the bone marrow.

Teleology: The study of the ultimate purpose of the design of something in nature.

For example, "what is the true purpose of the nose?" is a teleological question and, to say that all evolutionary changes occur for a definite purpose is a teleological explanation of evolution.

"Teleology" comes from ancient Greek roots but it (and teleological) did not enter English until the 18th century. It is a compound of the Greek "tele-, telos," meaning "end or purpose" + the ending "logos" meaning "the science or study of" = the study of the ends or purposes.

Testosterone: A "male hormone" -- a sex hormone produced by the testes that encourages the development of male sexual characteristics, stimulates the activity of the male secondary sex characteristics, and prevents changes in them following castration. Chemically, testosterone is 17-beta-hydroxy-4-androstene-3-one.

Testosterone is the most potent of the naturally occurring androgens. The androgens cause the development of male sex characteristics, such as a deep voice and a beard; they also strengthen muscle tone and bone mass.

High levels of testosterone appear to promote good health in men, for example, lowering the risks of high blood pressure and heart attack. High testosterone levels also correlate with risky behavior, however, including increased aggressiveness and smoking, which may cancel out these health benefits.

Testosterone may be given to treat medical conditions, including female (but not male) breast cancer, hypogonadism (low gonadal function) in the male, cryptorchism (nondescent of the testis into the scrotum), and menorrhagia (irregular periods).