Cyproheptadine – – What are the indications and contraindications?

Cyproheptadine is a sedating histamine blocker that competes for H1 receptors on the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, uterus, bronchial smooth muscle and large blood vessels. Cyproheptadine also has additional anticholinergic and anti serotonergic properties, which make it both useful in hormone modulation for Cushing’s disease and potentially harmful in cardiovascular disease, and potentially harmful in cardiovascular disease, hypertension and hyperthyroidism.

Indications:

• Hay fever (allergic rhinitis or conjunctivitis)
• Cushing’s syndrome
• Vascular headaches, migraine
• Immune hypersensitivity conditions (urticaria, adjunctive treatment of anaphylaxis)
• Immune hypersensitivity conditions (urticaria, adjunctive treatment of anaphylaxis)

Contraindications:

• Glaucoma
• Peptic ulcer disease
• Gastrointestinal obstruction, paralytic ileus
• Genitourinary obstruction, urinary retention, BPH
• Lactation
• Concomitant use of MAO inhibitors

From a pharmacognosy perspective, Euphrasia officinalis, Larrea tridentata and Sambusuc nigra are useful herbs in treating hay fever.

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This post was written by Omar Rifai