Hijacked by influencers to make people “bigger butts,” Periactin, a drug prescribed for allergies previously sold freely in pharmacies, will now be available on prescription.
The National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) announced this Thursday, Periactin, a drug normally used in the treatment of allergies such as rhinitis, hives or even conjunctivitis, will be withdrawn from over-the-counter sales in pharmacy. Thus, a prescription will now be requested to dispense the antiallergic antihistamine, effective July 10.
As early as January 2022, the agency had observed the worrying diversion of the drug: “non-compliant and potentially dangerous use to induce weight gain for aesthetic purposes”. Indeed, the ANSM notes that the treatment, comprising a molecule promoting appetite, was used by some to “grow the buttocks”.
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The choice to remove the treatment from over-the-counter sales was thus made “on the basis of what we see on social networks, where there is always significant promotion of the cosmetic use of this treatment,” explained Isabelle. Yoldjian, medical director of the agency at AFP.
On TikTok and Instagram, many influencers have promoted Periactin to “shape” the silhouette, like celebrities like Kim Kardashian. Some displayed their weight gain with “before and after” photos, sometimes claiming to have gained around ten kilos in just a few weeks.
serious side effects
Poupette Kenza, with 1.3 million subscribers on Tiktok, had also promoted the drug, before going back on her comments. Other influencers have nevertheless tried to warn young women who could be tempted by the treatment. The latter mention in particular the drowsiness associated with the treatment, as well as the possibility of dizziness and violent nausea.
The National Medicines Safety Agency has reportedly recorded reports of serious side effects such as convulsions, agitation, or drowsiness, urinary retention or even tachycardia. “These effects are not trivial,” underlined the medical director of ASNM.
Just a few months ago, it was Ozempic, a drug for type 2 diabetes, that caused a stir. Diverted to lose weight, the treatment was adopted by the general public after being used and praised by stars like Oprah Winfrey and Keke Palmer.
