Diverted from its main indication, it can no longer be purchased freely in pharmacies.
Anyone who has already taken it will confirm it to you: you just need to take this medication to quickly fall into the arms of Morpheus. Like all first generation antihistamines, it has a significant sedative effect at recommended doses, especially at the start of treatment. Available until now without a prescription, it has unfortunately been too far diverted from its original indications to remain there. Thus the Medicines Agency (ANSM) announces that it will no longer be on sale over the counter from July 10, 2024. After this date, you will need to consult a doctor to get a prescription and obtain it from a pharmacy.
This medication is authorized on the French market for its benefits against allergic symptoms of rhinitis, conjunctivitis and urticaria from 6 years old. But it also has orexigenic effects, that is to say it increases the appetite and is therefore diverted from its use by certain consumers who wish to gain weight for aesthetic purposes. “Despite the information measures put in place since 2022, these misuses persist, as well as the risks associated with them. The change in the conditions of prescription and delivery aims to limit this misuse” estimates the ANSM in a press release dated June 26.
By taking this medication outside the indications validated by the health authorities, the consumer is exposed to several undesirable effects such as: decreased alertness, drowsiness, constipation, urinary retention, vision problems and palpitations. “which may be important in the context of this misuse”. The drug in question is Periactin® (cyproheptadine). Antihistamine alternatives exist for the first-line treatment of allergies, some of which are available without a prescription (e.g. polaramine and cetirizine). Professionals who prescribe Périactine® 4mg after July 10 must inform the patient of the risks associated with its use and the rules for proper use of the medication: compliance with dosages, duration of treatment, and route of administration.
Periactine® is currently contraindicated in cases of risk of narrow-angle glaucoma, urinary retention or a history of significant decrease or absence of white blood cells. Similarly, treatment is not recommended during pregnancy since it induces uterine contractions, and during breastfeeding due to sedation. Medical monitoring is recommended in patients with renal insufficiency because there is a risk of overdose due to accumulation of the drug in the body.
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