I have a son aged 25 months. He was born low birth weight -- 2.4 Kg (5 pounds 4 ounces). When he was an year old, he weighed approximately 9 Kg (19 pounds 13 ounces). The paediatrician gave him Oraxin (cyproheptadine hydrochloride 2mg, peptone 25mg and lysine hydrochloride 150 mg ). Dosage - 2.5 ml, twice daily, for 6 months to increase his appetite. When given the drug proved effective and it reduced the child's hyperactivity and at present the child weighs 11 Kg (24 pounds 3 ounces). Could you please tell me how long is it safe to give the above mentioned drug and its adverse effects if any?

Oraxin may increase your child's appetite, but at great cost.

Many adults want a decreased appetite. Over the years people have found that taking stimulant drugs (caffeine, amphetamines, cocaine) tends to make one less hungry. As you might expect, sedative medications have the opposite effect. Oraxin (or Oractine) is a combination drug made in Israel which is given to increase appetite, and thus growth. The main active ingredient, cyproheptadine HCl, is a potent sedative, antihistamine, and antiserotonin drug. The other ingredients are common dietary amino acids. This drug should not to be confused with Orexin, which is a combination of B Complex vitamins.

Cyproheptadine HCl is primarily given for allergies. Some people take it for clearing runny noses, some for hives, and some for more serious allergies. One of the side effects noted by people taking this, and similar medicines for allergies, is increased appetite and weight gain. This led to the practice of giving the drug to those who want increased appetite and weight gain. Thus, one person's side effect may be someone else's desired effect.

There are a host of other side effects that have been reported with this drug, whether taken for the purpose of appetite stimulation or for long-term allergic problems: fatigue, chills, headache, wheezing, urinary difficulties, jaundice, anemia, low blood pressure, palpitations, shock, blurred vision, vertigo, ringing in the ears, confusion, disturbed coordination, nervousness, irritability, numbness, and hallucinations. Overdosage, especially in young children, may produce central nervous system depression, convulsions, and even death.

Of course, most children will experience none of these side effects. It sounds as if your son's experience with Oraxin has been quite good.

Keep in mind, again, that different countries have different standards for drug testing, safety, and manufacturing. In the United States, cyproheptadine HCl is approved for use for allergies. Some physicians use it as an appetite suppressant. Among my colleagues, most have only used it in the case of severe malnutrition associated with chronic medical conditions such as cystic fibrosis.

In addition, it might be wise to speak with your child’s pediatrician about what else might be contributing to his poor weight gain. Some underlying medical conditions first present as difficulty gaining weight. Use of Oraxin without addressing the underlying reason for poor weight gain could end up being a temporary “band-aid” instead of a true, long-term answer.

In the United States the package insert for cyproheptadine HCl states that "Patients should be warned about engaging in activities requiring mental alertness and motor coordination, such as driving a car or operating machinery."

Being two years old requires mental alertness and motor coordination! In effect, two-year-olds are always "driving heavy machinery." It is a time of rapidly developing language and cognitive skills, as well as gross motor skills. It would be tragic for this burst of mental and physical development to be blunted by a sedative drug.

The amount of cyproheptadine found in Oraxin is relatively small.