Cyproheptadine 4mg tablets
Available from a pharmacy with pharmacist advice
Antihistamines, hyposensitisation, and allergic emergencies
Official documents, adverse reaction reporting, and safety monitoring
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Official medicine documents
Safety monitoring data
Yellow Card reports
The MHRA Yellow Card scheme collects reports of suspected side effects from healthcare professionals and patients. View the Drug Analysis Profile (iDAP) for real-world adverse reaction data.
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Suspected adverse reactions reported for Cyproheptadine
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Submit a Yellow Card report to the MHRA
Data from the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. A reported reaction does not necessarily mean the medicine caused it. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
EudraVigilance
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) collects suspected adverse reaction reports from across the EU/EEA through the EudraVigilance system. Search for safety data on this medicine.
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Suspected adverse reactions reported for Cyproheptadine
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EudraVigilance data is published by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). A suspected adverse reaction is not necessarily caused by the medicine.
2 branded products available
MHRA licensed products
View all licensed products for Cyproheptadine on the MHRA register
Periactin 4mg tablets
This is the NHS Drug Tariff indicative price used for reimbursement purposes. It may not reflect the price paid by patients or pharmacies.
View full Drug TariffSource: NHS Drug Tariff via NHSBSA. Derived from dm+d VMPP (Virtual Medicinal Product Pack) pricing data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
WHO defined daily dose (DDD)
12 mg
Not a recommended dose. The DDD is the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used for its main indication in adults. It is a statistical measure used for research and comparison purposes only.
Source: WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, distributed via NHS dm+d BNF mapping files. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Therapeutically similar medicines
Similarity based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and NHS BNF section grouping. Source data: NHS dm+d via TRUD (OGL v3.0), WHO ATC/DDD Index.
NHS prescribing volume and spending trends
Clinical guidelines and formulary information
British National Formulary
Cyproheptadine
Source: British National Formulary, NICE. Joint Formulary Committee. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Check stock at pharmacies and supply information
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Supply & product information
Official product databases and supply status monitoring
Pharmacy links redirect to the retailer's own search and do not represent real-time stock levels. emc (electronic medicines compendium) is operated by Datapharm Ltd. Shortage information sourced from NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS), sps.nhs.uk.
Codes for healthcare professionals and prescribing systems
These codes are used by healthcare IT systems and prescribers to identify this medicine.
NHS UK identifiers
Browse tools
SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. BNF codes from NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). ATC codes from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (whocc.no).
Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Pharmacology and chemical data from DrugBank
Key facts
Drug status
Approved
Major interactions
1 found
Half-life
Not available
Mechanism
Cyproheptadine appears to exert its antihistamine and antiserotonin effects by c…
Food interactions
1 warning
Human targets
9 targets
Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Pharmacokinetics at a glance
Absorption
4 hours
Metabolism
[L32474]
Elimination
2-20%
Pharmacokinetic data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
[L32474]
In Canada, cyproheptadine is available over-the-counter and is indicated for the treatment of pruritus and for appetite stimulation.
[L32519]
In Australia, cyproheptadine is additionally indicated for the treatment vascular headaches.
[L32479]
Cyproheptadine is also used off-label for the treatment of serotonin syndrome.
[A231274]
Known interactions with other medications. Always consult a healthcare professional.
Showing 50 of 1263 interactions
[L32474]
Most patients appear to recover without incident, as a review of cyproheptadine overdose cases in Hong Kong found the majority of patients had no or mild symptoms following intentional overdose.
[A231759]
In the event of overdosage with cyproheptadine, prescribing information recommends the induction of vomiting (if it has not occurred spontaneously) using syrup of ipecac.
[L32474]
Gastric lavage and activated charcoal may also be considered. Vasopressors may be used to treat hypotension and intravenous physostigmine salicylate may be considered for the treatment of significant CNS symptoms depending on the clinical picture.
[L32474]
How the body processes this drug — absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination
[A179503]
The Tmax of orally and sublingually administered cyproheptadine was 4 hours and 9.6 hours, respectively.
[A179503]
[L32474]
[L32479]
At least 40% of radioactivity is recovered in the urine.
[L32479]
Proteins and enzymes this drug interacts with in the body
PMID:33828102 PMID:8280179
Through the H1 receptor, histamine mediates the contraction of smooth muscles and increases capillary permeability due to contraction of terminal venules. Also mediates neurotransmission in the central nervous system and thereby regulates circadian rhythms, emotional and locomotor activities as well as cognitive functions (By similarity)
PMID:1330647 PMID:18703043 PMID:19057895 PMID:21645528 PMID:22300836 PMID:35084960 PMID:38552625
Also functions as a receptor for various drugs and psychoactive substances, including mescaline, psilocybin, 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI) and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) .
PMID:28129538 PMID:35084960
Ligand binding causes a conformation change that triggers signaling via guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) and modulates the activity of downstream effectors .
PMID:28129538 PMID:35084960
HTR2A is coupled to G(q)/G(11) G alpha proteins and activates phospholipase C-beta, releasing diacylglycerol (DAG) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) second messengers that modulate the activity of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and promote the release of Ca(2+) ions from intracellular stores, respectively .
PMID:18703043 PMID:28129538 PMID:35084960
Beta-arrestin family members inhibit signaling via G proteins and mediate activation of alternative signaling pathways .
PMID:28129538 PMID:35084960
Affects neural activity, perception, cognition and mood .
PMID:18297054
Plays a role in the regulation of behavior, including responses to anxiogenic situations and psychoactive substances. Plays a role in intestinal smooth muscle contraction, and may play a role in arterial vasoconstriction (By similarity)
PMID:12970106 PMID:18703043 PMID:19057895 PMID:29398112 PMID:7895773
Also functions as a receptor for various drugs and psychoactive substances, including ergot alkaloid derivatives, 1-2,5,-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl-2-aminopropane (DOI) and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) .
PMID:19057895 PMID:29398112
Ligand binding causes a conformation change that triggers signaling via guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) and modulates the activity of downstream effectors .
PMID:18703043 PMID:29398112
HTR2C is coupled to G(q)/G(11) G alpha proteins and activates phospholipase C-beta, releasing diacylglycerol (DAG) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) second messengers that modulate the activity of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and promote the release of Ca(2+) ions from intracellular stores, respectively .
PMID:18703043 PMID:29398112
Beta-arrestin family members inhibit signaling via G proteins and mediate activation of alternative signaling pathways .
PMID:29398112
Regulates neuronal activity via the activation of short transient receptor potential calcium channels in the brain, and thereby modulates the activation of pro-opiomelanocortin neurons and the release of CRH that then regulates the release of corticosterone (By similarity). Plays a role in the regulation of appetite and eating behavior, responses to anxiogenic stimuli and stress (By similarity). Plays a role in insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis (By similarity)
PMID:18703043 PMID:23519210 PMID:7926008 PMID:8078486 PMID:8143856 PMID:8882600
Also functions as a receptor for various ergot alkaloid derivatives and psychoactive substances .
PMID:12970106 PMID:18703043 PMID:23519210 PMID:23519215 PMID:24357322 PMID:28129538 PMID:30127358 PMID:36087581 PMID:7926008 PMID:8078486 PMID:8143856
Ligand binding causes a conformation change that triggers signaling via guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) and modulates the activity of downstream effectors .
PMID:23519215 PMID:28129538 PMID:8078486 PMID:8143856 PMID:8882600
HTR2B is coupled to G(q)/G(11) G alpha proteins and activates phospholipase C-beta, releasing diacylglycerol (DAG) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) second messengers that modulate the activity of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and promote the release of Ca(2+) ions from intracellular stores, respectively .
PMID:18703043 PMID:23519215 PMID:28129538 PMID:30127358 PMID:36087581 PMID:8078486 PMID:8143856 PMID:8882600
Beta-arrestin family members inhibit signaling via G proteins and mediate activation of alternative signaling pathways .
PMID:23519215 PMID:28129538 PMID:30127358 PMID:36087581
Plays a role in the regulation of dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine release, 5-hydroxytryptamine uptake and in the regulation of extracellular dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine levels, and thereby affects neural activity. May play a role in the perception of pain (By similarity). Plays a role in the regulation of behavior, including impulsive behavior .
PMID:21179162
Required for normal proliferation of embryonic cardiac myocytes and normal heart development (By similarity).
Protects cardiomyocytes against apoptosis (By similarity). Plays a role in the adaptation of pulmonary arteries to chronic hypoxia (By similarity). Plays a role in vasoconstriction (By similarity).
Required for normal osteoblast function and proliferation, and for maintaining normal bone density (By similarity). Required for normal proliferation of the interstitial cells of Cajal in the intestine (By similarity)
The activity of this receptor is mediated by G proteins which activate adenylyl cyclase and, through a separate G protein-dependent mechanism, the phosphoinositide/protein kinase (PKC) signaling pathway (By similarity)
Enzymes involved in drug metabolism — important for understanding drug interactions
Proteins that transport this drug across cell membranes
PMID:11388889 PMID:11408531 PMID:12439218 PMID:12719534 PMID:15389554 PMID:16263091 PMID:16272756 PMID:16581093 PMID:19536068 PMID:21128598 PMID:23680637 PMID:24961373 PMID:34040533 PMID:9187257 PMID:9260930 PMID:9655880
Functions as a pH- and Na(+)-independent, bidirectional transporter (By similarity). Cation cellular uptake or release is driven by the electrochemical potential (i.e. membrane potential and concentration gradient) and substrate selectivity (By similarity). Hydrophobicity is a major requirement for recognition in polyvalent substrates and inhibitors (By similarity).
Primarily expressed at the basolateral membrane of hepatocytes and proximal tubules and involved in the uptake and disposition of cationic compounds by hepatic and renal clearance from the blood flow (By similarity). Most likely functions as an uptake carrier in enterocytes contributing to the intestinal elimination of organic cations from the systemic circulation .
PMID:16263091
Transports endogenous monoamines such as N-1-methylnicotinamide (NMN), guanidine, histamine, neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin and adrenaline .
PMID:12439218 PMID:24961373 PMID:35469921 PMID:9260930
Also transports natural polyamines such as spermidine, agmatine and putrescine at low affinity, but relatively high turnover .
PMID:21128598
Involved in the hepatic uptake of vitamin B1/thiamine, hence regulating hepatic lipid and energy metabolism .
PMID:24961373
Mediates the bidirectional transport of acetylcholine (ACh) at the apical membrane of ciliated cell in airway epithelium, thereby playing a role in luminal release of ACh from bronchial epithelium .
PMID:15817714
Transports dopaminergic neuromodulators cyclo(his-pro) and salsolinol with lower efficency .
PMID:17460754
Also capable of transporting non-amine endogenous compounds such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostaglandin F2-alpha (PGF2-alpha) .
PMID:11907186
May contribute to the transport of cationic compounds in testes across the blood-testis-barrier (Probable). Also involved in the uptake of xenobiotics tributylmethylammonium (TBuMA), quinidine, N-methyl-quinine (NMQ), N-methyl-quinidine (NMQD) N-(4,4-azo-n-pentyl)-quinuclidine (APQ), azidoprocainamide methoiodide (AMP), N-(4,4-azo-n-pentyl)-21-deoxyajmalinium (APDA) and 4-(4-(dimethylamino)styryl)-N-methylpyridinium (ASP) PMID:11408531 PMID:15389554 PMID:35469921 PMID:9260930
Proteins that carry this drug through the body
PMID:19021548
Major calcium and magnesium transporter in plasma, binds approximately 45% of circulating calcium and magnesium in plasma (By similarity).
Potentially has more than two calcium-binding sites and might additionally bind calcium in a non-specific manner (By similarity). The shared binding site between zinc and calcium at residue Asp-273 suggests a crosstalk between zinc and calcium transport in the blood (By similarity). The rank order of affinity is zinc > calcium > magnesium (By similarity).
Binds to the bacterial siderophore enterobactin and inhibits enterobactin-mediated iron uptake of E.coli from ferric transferrin, and may thereby limit the utilization of iron and growth of enteric bacteria such as E.coli .
PMID:6234017
Does not prevent iron uptake by the bacterial siderophore aerobactin PMID:6234017
Involved compounds
ATC R06AX02
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
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Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Cyproheptadine
Additional database identifiers
Drugs Product Database (DPD)
10029
ChemSpider
2810
BindingDB
50017721
PDB
C7H
Guide to Pharmacology
277
ZINC
ZINC000000968264
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:5182
GenAtlas
HRH1
GeneCards
HRH1
GenBank Gene Database
Z34897
GenBank Protein Database
510296
Guide to Pharmacology
262
UniProt Accession
HRH1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:5293
GenAtlas
HTR2A
GeneCards
HTR2A
GenBank Gene Database
S42168
GenBank Protein Database
36431
Guide to Pharmacology
6
UniProt Accession
5HT2A_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:5295
GenAtlas
HTR2C
GeneCards
HTR2C
GenBank Gene Database
M81778
GenBank Protein Database
338028
Guide to Pharmacology
8
UniProt Accession
5HT2C_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:5294
GenAtlas
HTR2B
GeneCards
HTR2B
GenBank Gene Database
X77307
GenBank Protein Database
475198
Guide to Pharmacology
7
UniProt Accession
5HT2B_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:5183
GenAtlas
HRH2
GeneCards
HRH2
GenBank Gene Database
M64799
GenBank Protein Database
184088
Guide to Pharmacology
263
UniProt Accession
HRH2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1950
GenAtlas
CHRM1
GeneCards
CHRM1
GenBank Gene Database
X52068
GenBank Protein Database
34451
Guide to Pharmacology
13
UniProt Accession
ACM1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1951
GenAtlas
CHRM2
GeneCards
CHRM2
GenBank Gene Database
M16404
GenBank Protein Database
177990
Guide to Pharmacology
14
UniProt Accession
ACM2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1952
GenAtlas
CHRM3
GeneCards
CHRM3
GenBank Gene Database
X15266
GenBank Protein Database
32324
Guide to Pharmacology
15
UniProt Accession
ACM3_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:5302
GenAtlas
HTR7
GeneCards
HTR7
GenBank Gene Database
U68487
GenBank Protein Database
1857143
Guide to Pharmacology
12
UniProt Accession
5HT7R_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:12535
GeneCards
UGT1A3
GenBank Gene Database
M84127
GenBank Protein Database
340135
UniProt Accession
UD13_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:12536
GeneCards
UGT1A4
GenBank Gene Database
M57951
GenBank Protein Database
184475
UniProt Accession
UD14_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:12544
GeneCards
UGT2B10
UniProt Accession
UDB10_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:399
GenAtlas
ALB
GeneCards
ALB
GenBank Gene Database
V00494
GenBank Protein Database
28590
UniProt Accession
ALBU_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:10963
GeneCards
SLC22A1
GenBank Gene Database
X98332
GenBank Protein Database
2511670
Guide to Pharmacology
1019
UniProt Accession
S22A1_HUMAN
International reference pricing
Reference pricing from DrugBank. Prices are indicative and may not reflect current UK costs.
Source: DrugBank. Used under CC BY-NC 4.0 academic licence for non-commercial purposes.
DrugBank citations
If you use DrugBank data in your research, please cite the following publications: