Appetamine, often marketed under the name "Apetamin," is a supplement that is used primarily to stimulate appetite and promote weight gain. Apetamin contains cyproheptadine hydrochloride, a first-generation antihistamine, combined with vitamins.

Key Components and Uses:

1. Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride: This is the active ingredient that acts as an appetite stimulant. It has been shown to promote weight gain in various populations, including children with non-organic failure to thrive and those with mild to moderate undernutrition¹².
2. Multivitamins: Apetamin also includes vitamins that help support overall health and may contribute to its appetite-stimulating effects.

Benefits and Side Effects:

Benefits:

• Appetite Stimulation: Cyproheptadine is effective in increasing appetite, which can result in significant weight gain¹².
• Nutritional Improvement: The multivitamin component can help improve nutritional status¹.

Potential Side Effects:

• Hepatotoxicity: There have been reports of drug-induced autoimmune hepatitis in users. Symptoms can include fatigue, abdominal discomfort, jaundice, and elevated liver enzymes³⁴.
• Other Side Effects: Common side effects of cyproheptadine may include dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, and constipation⁵⁶.

Safety and Regulation:

Apetamin is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and its sale is not regulated in many countries³⁴. Due to potential severe side effects like liver toxicity, it is advisable to consult healthcare professionals before considering its use³⁴.

Conclusion:

While Apetamin can be effective for appetite stimulation and weight gain, its potential risks, including severe liver toxicity, should be carefully considered. Always seek professional medical advice before starting any supplement, especially those not regulated by health authorities.

Footnotes

1. Yi-Chun Lin, "Effects of cyproheptadine on body weight gain in children with nonorganic failure to thrive in Taiwan," PubMed Central, 2021. ↩ ↩² ↩³

2. Khadijehsadat Najib, "Beneficial Effect of Cyproheptadine on Body Mass Index in Undernourished Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial," PubMed Central, 2014. ↩ ↩²

3. Victoria Garland, "Apetamin Hepatotoxicity: Potential Consequences of Purchasing a Body Enhancement Drug Off the Internet," PubMed Central, 2020. ↩ ↩² ↩³

4. J L Penfold, "Effect of cyproheptadine and a multivitamin preparation on appetite stimulation, weight gain and linear growth," PubMed, 1971. ↩ ↩² ↩³

5. Fatemeh Dabaghzadeh, "Potential benefits of cyproheptadine in HIV-positive patients under treatment with antiretroviral drugs including efavirenz," PubMed, 2012. ↩

6. Fatemeh Dabaghzadeh, "Potential benefits of cyproheptadine in HIV-positive patients under treatment with antiretroviral drugs including efavirenz," PubMed, 2012. ↩