# Cyproheptadine in Nigeria

- Source: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/cyproheptadine/
- Drug class: First-generation (sedating) antihistamine — appetite stimulant (Allergy)
- Also known as: Periactin, Apitol, Sumo Active, Ciplactin
- Prescription required: no
- Last updated: July 2026

## Price in Nigeria

Cyproheptadine prices in Nigeria vary by brand, strength, and where you buy it. Confirm the current price with a licensed pharmacy, and always check the product is NAFDAC-registered before you pay.

## What is Cyproheptadine?

Cyproheptadine is an older, 'first-generation' antihistamine — related to medicines like chlorpheniramine and promethazine — that is used to relieve allergies such as itching, hives, and a runny nose. In Nigeria, however, it is far better known for a side effect than for its allergy use: it increases appetite and can cause weight gain. For this reason it is sold everywhere as an 'appetite stimulant' or 'appetite syrup', often under brand names like Apitol, Sumo Active, and Apetifast, and frequently combined with lysine and B-vitamins.

As an antihistamine, cyproheptadine blocks histamine (which drives allergy symptoms) and also blocks a brain signal (serotonin) involved in feeling full — which is why it makes people hungrier. It is genuinely effective at increasing appetite, which is why parents give the syrups to children who 'won't eat', and why adults take it to gain weight. It also causes drowsiness, so it can make people sleepy.

It is important to be clear-eyed about this medicine. Used sensibly and briefly, for a genuine allergy or a short appetite boost under guidance, cyproheptadine is inexpensive and usually well tolerated. But its very popular use for weight gain — especially long-term, in high doses, in young children and babies, or as part of 'body enhancement' mixtures bought from unverified sellers — carries real risks. It is not a healthy or lasting way to gain weight, and it should not be given to infants or used casually without advice. Always buy a NAFDAC-registered product and use it thoughtfully.

## What is Cyproheptadine used for?

- Increasing appetite ('appetite stimulant') — its main use in Nigeria, ideally short-term and under guidance
- Allergic itching and hives (urticaria)
- Allergic rhinitis (sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes)
- Some allergic skin reactions
- Occasionally, specific medical uses (such as certain headaches) under a doctor's direction

## Dosage

Always follow a doctor's or pharmacist's instructions; this is general reference information.

- Adults: For allergies, a common dose is 4mg (one tablet) three times a day. When used to stimulate appetite, lower or once/twice-daily dosing is often used, and it should be for a limited period rather than indefinitely. Because it causes drowsiness, many people take it in the evening. It can be taken with or without food.
- Children: Cyproheptadine syrups are widely given to children for appetite, but this should be done carefully and ideally on medical advice, using the dose for the child's age and weight. It must NOT be given to babies and very young children (generally under 2 years), in whom antihistamines like this can cause dangerous drowsiness and breathing problems. 'My child won't eat' is common and usually not solved by a syrup — a health worker can check for causes (such as infection, worms, or anaemia) first.
- Elderly: Use with caution. Older adults are more sensitive to the drowsiness, confusion, dry mouth, constipation, and urinary problems it can cause, and it can worsen glaucoma and prostate problems.

Cyproheptadine is meant for short-term use. Taking it continuously for months to keep gaining weight is not how it should be used, and the weight gained often comes back once it is stopped. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how drowsy it makes you, and avoid alcohol. Never give it to a baby or use unlabelled 'appetite' or 'body enhancement' mixtures from unverified sellers, which may contain hidden steroids or wrong doses.

## Side effects

Common: Drowsiness and sleepiness (very common); Increased appetite and weight gain (the intended effect when used for that reason); Dry mouth; Dizziness; Constipation.

Serious (seek medical help immediately): In babies and very young children: dangerous drowsiness, breathing difficulty, or seizures — this is why it must not be used in infants; Fast or irregular heartbeat; Difficulty passing urine (especially in older men with prostate problems); Worsening of glaucoma (eye pressure); Confusion, agitation, or hallucinations, particularly at high doses or in the elderly; Signs of a serious allergic reaction to the medicine itself.

When to see a doctor: Seek urgent care if a child — especially a baby — becomes very drowsy, floppy, or has trouble breathing after taking it. See a doctor for a fast or irregular heartbeat, difficulty passing urine, eye pain or vision changes, or confusion. If appetite or weight loss is the real concern, get it assessed properly rather than relying on the syrup, as ongoing poor appetite or weight loss can have an underlying cause.

## Warnings

Do not take if: Do not use in newborns, babies, or very young children (generally under 2 years); Avoid in glaucoma (raised eye pressure); Avoid in men with prostate enlargement or difficulty passing urine; Avoid in stomach or bowel obstruction and in severe liver disease; Do not use with, or within two weeks of, MAOI antidepressants; Use caution in the elderly, in asthma, and in heart disease; Do not use if you are allergic to cyproheptadine.

Interactions: Alcohol and other sedatives (sleeping tablets, some pain and anxiety medicines) add to drowsiness; MAOI antidepressants — should not be combined; Other 'anticholinergic' medicines increase dry mouth, constipation, and urinary problems; Tell a pharmacist about all medicines, and be wary of 'appetite' or weight-gain mixtures that hide extra ingredients such as steroids.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Cyproheptadine is generally not recommended in pregnancy or breastfeeding unless a doctor advises it, and it should not be used to try to gain weight during these times. Antihistamines like this can affect a nursing baby and may reduce milk supply. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding and think you need it, ask a doctor or pharmacist first.

## Brands in Nigeria

Well-known NAFDAC-registered brands: Apitol Syrup (Me Cure Industries Limited, made in Nigeria); Apitol Tablets (Me Cure Industries Limited, made in Nigeria); Sumo Active Syrup (Ratnamani Healthcare Pvt. Ltd (imported by GBGL Pharma Limited), made in India); Avro Apetit Syrup (Avro Pharma Limited, made in Nigeria); Super Apeti Plus (Shalina Healthcare Nigeria Limited, made in India).
Full searchable brand list: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/cyproheptadine/brands/

## How to verify it is genuine

1. Buy cyproheptadine (or brands like Apitol, Sumo Active, Avro Apetit) from a licensed pharmacy
2. Check the NAFDAC registration number on the pack and verify it on the NAFDAC Green Book or app — for example Apitol Syrup is A4-4942 and Apitol Tablets A4-3376 (Me Cure)
3. Note on Sumo Active (B4-8122): although it is sold widely, the NAFDAC Greenbook lists this registration as EXPIRED since November 2023 (approved 2018, not yet shown as renewed as of July 2026). Check its current status on the Greenbook before buying, especially in bulk
4. Check the expiry date and that the packaging is sealed and untampered
5. Be very cautious of loose tablets, unlabelled 'appetite' or 'body enhancement' syrups, and social-media weight-gain mixtures — these may be unregistered, wrongly dosed, or spiked with steroids
6. For a child, confirm the product is meant for children and get the right dose from a pharmacist

Verify any NAFDAC number free (no login): https://ogbogwu.com/nafdac-checker/

## FAQs

### What is cyproheptadine (appetite syrup) used for in Nigeria?

Officially, cyproheptadine is an antihistamine for allergies — itching, hives, and a runny nose. In Nigeria, though, it is mostly bought and sold as an 'appetite stimulant' or 'appetite syrup', because a well-known side effect is that it makes you hungry and can cause weight gain. Brands like Apitol, Sumo Active, and Apetifast (often combined with lysine and vitamins) are marketed for exactly this. It is genuinely effective at increasing appetite, which is why parents give it to children who won't eat and adults take it to gain weight — but it is meant for short-term, sensible use, not months of high doses.

### Is it safe to use cyproheptadine to gain weight?

For a short, guided boost it is usually well tolerated, but it should not be treated as a safe long-term weight-gain drug. The weight gained often comes back once you stop, and long-term or high-dose use — or using unlabelled 'body enhancement' mixtures from unverified sellers — carries real risks: heavy drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation, fast heartbeat, and, in older men, difficulty passing urine. Some street mixtures are secretly spiked with steroids, which is dangerous. Healthy weight gain comes from good food and treating any underlying cause; if you want to gain weight, it is better to speak to a pharmacist or doctor than to self-dose appetite syrup indefinitely.

### Can I give cyproheptadine appetite syrup to my child or baby?

Be very careful. It must NOT be given to babies and very young children (generally under 2 years), because antihistamines like cyproheptadine can cause dangerous drowsiness and breathing problems in infants. For older children, the syrups are widely used for poor appetite, but this should ideally be done on a pharmacist's or doctor's advice, at the correct dose for the child's age and weight, and only for a short time. Often a child who 'won't eat' has a treatable reason — such as an infection, worms, or anaemia — that is worth checking first, rather than relying on a syrup.

## Sources

- NAFDAC Greenbook (official register of approved products in Nigeria)
- British National Formulary (BNF)
- Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health)