Just wondering if anyone or their children have taken Periactin (Cyproheptad is the generic) as an appetite stimulant.

My son hasn't gained any weight since about May. He's not very skinny, but just not as chubby as he used to be and not gaining anything. He's very picky, like all toddlers I'm sure, but even things he loves he doesn't eat much of. So at our clinic visit last week the dietician put him on Periactin.

Apparently its for allergies, but increased appetite is a major side effect and its often used for that purpose. I researched it quite a bit. It would normally be taken a few times a day for allergies, but for this purpose is taken once before bed (it causes drowsiness). It took the pharmacy a couple days to get it in, so we just started last night. No change yet in appetite that I can see, but I'll give it time.

Anyway, just wanted to know if any of you have experience with Periactin.

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Amber, mom to Vinny, 5 years old, and Hazel, 1 year old, both w/ CF

Yes, my kids tried periactin with no luck really. It did make them VERY sleepy so we couldn't use it during the day. Instant crash. We tried it at night, then small doses during the day. I know it has worked for others though.

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jane
mom of Josh 18 and Jesse 14 both w/cf

Thanks for the responses, I was curious because the doc said its used quite a bit with CFers. Funny that your cat took it, glad it worked though.
He's prescribed 1 tsp. before bed so he's not sleepy all day. She said that should make him wake up hungry. I'm hoping it helps because I'm worried what they'll do if he doesn't gain any weight.

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Amber, mom to Vinny, 5 years old, and Hazel, 1 year old, both w/ CF

Our daughter has not taken it but it has been discussed as an option down the road. First we are trying Pediasure / Resource drinks. I did talk to another parent though and they had a lot of success with it. Their child gained 4 or 5 lbs in 3 months and had a huge appetite.
Let us know how it goes... I am curious of the results.

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Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but rather by the number of times life takes your breath away.

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Edited: 11/05/2009 at 06:08 PM by CaliSally

Oral GSH is known to increase appetite. Chamomile, lemon balm, and sage are natural appetite stimulants and aid in digestion. Teas can be made and added to a little juice or maybe a smoothie. Sage is great with chicken and beef and aid in the break down of fat as an added bonus.

Appetite loss can be related to improper digestion (among other things of course which should be investigated). I feel gut ecology is often over looked in weight issues. Reducing inflammation in the gut will help it function better and create a healthy mucosa lining (flora) which is also critical in digestion and immune function. Our son takes a daily probiotic (acidophilus strains) to maintain healthy levels of bacteria, tumeric to reduce inflammation, and DHA (200mg of Nordic Naturals) also for inflammation. These all mix nicely in apple sauce. We started with just a probiotic which helped a lot. Then we added DHA, again better absorption. Now tumeric, and he has had a huge growth spurt since adding this. Because these are all natural, food based things, the body knows what to do with it and benefits quickly (our experience).

Coconut oil and milks are great ways to add calories and will heal the gut as well. Tropical Traditions is a great brand. We add 2-3 TBSP of melted coconut oil in smoothies or milk. You can really get creative here and let them pick flavors and ingredients to add. A quick healthy high cal drink which supports the gut is 1/2 banana, 6oz milk (regular, rice, almond), 2 oz of coconut milk, a little plain yogurt or kefir, 2 tBSP coconut oil, 1 tsp vanilla or almond extract, a little honey(raw if possible if over 2 years old) or AGAVE nectar, some ice, and a little cinnamon. You could also add a little cocoa powder to make it chocolatey or fresh or frozen strawberries/pineapple for a fruity one. These are so quick and will do wonders. We give only after a meal or as part of a snack so it won't fill him up before meals.

Just some ideas...hope one sparks something. He is a cutey by the way. Our son is 2 1/2, they are so fun at this age (challenging too).

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Jody

www.cfnutrition4life.com

we had no luck with periactin in the past for my daughter , but now take megace and have gained about 20 lb. in 2 months , this is the best she has looked in years.

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mom to 16 year old twin girls w/cf

Megace...that is a new drug I had not heard about. My son (now 4) was prescribed periactin and it really had no appetite stimulant effect on him. I was reading up on Megace and it seems to be given to AIDS patients with weight loss. Did you give it to your daughter ? How old was she when you stated giving it to her and what was her weight. ? I am looking for a solution to lack of appetite. Please advise. thanks.

Megase - I'm on it, and it really works. I take 1Tbs twice a day and follow it down with a swig of soda or whatever. Basically it does one of two things during the day:
1- Ravenous appetite.
2- I don't get the signal from my brain that I'm full and I end up eating until it hurts.

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Jesse Petersen
http://www.jessepetersen.com
http://www.perfectlypetersen.com

31yr-old, married 10/06, Tampa, FL

I'm currently on it. I take 5 times a week, 1 tab a day, and at night (I get drowsy).
I really think it helps!
But I think that especially since the appetite is a side effect, it wouldn't help everyone.
I hope it works for your son!

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Ali/14/CF

My daughter was on periactin twice. The first time it made her very drowsy. The doctor said that the drowsiness would go away after a few days and he was right. It worked well to increase her appetite too - she gained 2 pounds the first week.

The next time it didn't work at all. It didn't make her drowsy. It didn't stimulate her appetite. It was just one more pill to take.

We tried Resource and the Boost chocolate drinks but to no avail. She just doesn't like them.

Now I just make meals that I know she will like. It is contrary to my philosophy that kids should eat/try what the rest of us eat, but the consequences for her are too scary.

Best of luck,
mom of two - daughter, age 8, DD508, and a son, age 9, no CF

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Kathleen - mom with 2 kids, DD, age 8, with CF and DS, age 10, no CF

Emily was on Periactin at one time. It did not increase her appetite or cause weight gain, but was extremely sedating.

(Re. the allergy med question; Periactin is an antihistamine. I have no idea how it would interact w/ other allergy meds though.)

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*** Harriett, mom to Emily, 8- dx'ed on 11/24/08 w/cf (one df508/2nd mutation unknown), Shawn, 12 (one df508; status questionable due to sweat test results (48,54); pursuing further testing) & Timothy, 10 (no cf.)

My sister was on periactin when she was recovering from toxic shock syndrome, it made her drowsy as others have said and it did not stimulate her appetite. My mother just made sure she was eating enough and served foods she knew my sister would like.

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Tabetha mother to 3 sons, a 8yr old and 2 yr old w/o cf and a 8 month old w/cf(ddf508 & pancreas insufficiency)

Edited: 03/30/2009 at 11:53 AM by tabbycat821

I was just curios if your daughters are identical twims?

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Felicia, mother to Mariah born 11-18-08, DDF508, Meconium Ileus, Adhesion, Button

I would be careful with Megace. I took started taking it when i was in the hospital once and a few days later my sugars were in the 600's They were convinced that i had started the symptoms of CF related diabetes, but i started refusing megace and my sugars went back to normal in 5 days and i dont have diabetes. I was started on insulin and everything. but im fine now, thank god.

Be careful on Megace my daughter was put on it and at that time she had no known allergies, after about 1 week and a half she woke up covered in hives and had a hard time breathing. Ended up at the emergency room where they gave her a shot and predisone (weeks) worth. The folowing week she ended up in hospital for 5 days. It seemed to mess everything up. It did not really increase her appetite nor did it help gain weight.

I take Periactin and I am not too sure if it really helps with appetite. I have digestive problems that decrease my appetite and sometimes I am really hungry, but if I don't watch it and force myself to eat I may eat only 1 meal. I weight so little for my height that is an obvious problem, but it seems that your children are too young for me to advise a stronger stimulant (such as Marinol).

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19/m/Psoraisis/Asthma
Sinus Surgery was awesome
DDF508, 6'0 136 lbs