Cyproheptadine and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 3, 2020

For Anorexia "I was so excited about this pill and how it helped me gain weight, but with the weight gain came a lot of other health issues that followed. I decided I needed to let you guys know what can happen to you too. I got addicted to the pills. I was always sleeping, not concentrating, and the pills were not as effective as they were in the first few months, but I couldn’t stop taking them. It caused me to get fungus on my nails, breathing became heavy, and I was always tired and sleepy. I decided to stop taking the pills which was very hard for me, but I knew if I kept taking them I would end up getting really sick, which my body was already showing symptoms of. All the weight shed after I stopped taking the pills, but I have learned to love my body. Being tired and experiencing health complications is not worth it. If you are not prescribed these from a doctor, don’t mess with your body and your health, guys!"

• Cec...
• June 29, 2014

Cyproheptadine for Anorexia "This medicine is exceptional! I see many people saying they gained 1-5 lbs. I took it faithfully three times a day, and would you believe I moved up from a 7/8 to a 9/10 and put on about 22 lbs within only 4 weeks. I stopped for about 2 weeks, lost about 6 lbs (mainly stress), but I'm back on them and sleeping a little more. It only took about 2-3 weeks for my body to get used to them. If you wish to gain weight, try this! You will cry tears of joy. I was struggling with weight gain for about 5 years!"

• TIf...
• December 14, 2015

Cyproheptadine for Anorexia "On Periactin (cyproheptadine) pills 3X per day since 11/22/15. Since then, I have gained 22 pounds as of 12/13/15. These pills work wonders for people with poor appetite and eating habits. Being small most of my life, I never thought it was possible for me to get over 110 pounds, but these pills had me eating whole cakes in one day. I'm so serious! I eat two Big Macs instead of one with extra Mac sauce, just everything and a lot of it. I'm loving the way this 132 looks on me at 5'3"."

• mas...
• October 3, 2013

Cyproheptadine for Anorexia "I am a retired physician who, during the course of his practice, treated many patients with severe anorexia secondary to HIV/AIDS as well as near end-stage malignancies. For many years, I prescribed Periactin starting with the 2mg dose 1/2 to one hour before mealtime. Many patients reported a robust weight gain. The hypersomnolence (excessive sleepiness) disappeared after one to three months. The Periactin can be reduced to one 2mg every third day, and the weight usually is maintained at good if not optimal levels."

• Anonymous
• July 17, 2012

Cyproheptadine for Anorexia "I take it once a day, and been on it for 2 weeks and already gained 4 lbs. I feel a lot better and can tell the difference. For the first week, I felt like a zombie, but once in my system, the zombie feeling is gone. I recommend this to anyone who wants to gain weight and be healthy."

• Ind...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 12, 2017

Cyproheptadine for Anorexia "I started taking this medication. I was 88 pounds, 5'3", and sickly looking. People thought I was on drugs. I had no appetite and hated how my clothes looked! Taking this medicine, I am now 130 pounds and eat like a horse. I gained weight really fast too!! It doesn't make me tired, but my tolerance is high. I'm prescribed medical marijuana as well, which is a help also! I recommend both and CBDs."

• Poo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 5, 2014

Cyproheptadine for Migraine "My neurologist put me on 4x4 mg Periactin at night as a preventative for chronic migraine. I was aware of the weight gain possibility and started running and yoga. I slowly gained 5 kg in 5 months. Upon noticing this, I tried even harder. With time and dedication, I was able to exercise and eat my way back down to my normal skinny weight. When I'm hit with a carb craving (which is pretty often), I eat 30 mg of a healthy carb (such as a 2-inch chunk of carrot). It satisfies perfectly as long as you haven't consumed a protein in the last 2 hours. Do not turn to fatty carbs. The drowsiness also wore off in the first week. I am the healthiest and best version of myself, thanks to migraines. Choose not to be a victim. I now run charity marathons and have kept my career."

• roo...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 29, 2013

Cyproheptadine for Migraine "My child was diagnosed with cluster migraines when he was only 3.5 years old. This is very unusual. We refused to put him on anti-seizure medicines, which the doctor said has the side effect of helping migraines. Instead, we opted for Cyproheptadine, and it has worked wonders and improved his quality of life by 100 fold. Yes, I have to watch that weight gain, but otherwise, it has been a miracle."

• Pic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 19, 2019

For Migraine "At first, when I started taking cyproheptadine for really bad headaches, I felt really sick. Then, as I continued taking it, my body got accustomed to it. I was about 138 lb and gained up to 147 lb in like 2 months. I was shocked."

• scu...
• September 27, 2015

Cyproheptadine for Migraine "Cluster migraines made my life a misery. New doctor, new approach, and with Periactin of 5 x 4 mg at night has changed my life. Yes, be careful with the weight gain, and the sleepiness abated after two weeks. Some strange dreams as well."

• Bir...
• April 16, 2014

Cyproheptadine for Migraine "My 4-year-old was diagnosed with migraines (3-4 per month with vomiting and other symptoms). Given Periactin. Has had quite an increase in appetite and thus weight gain. It's difficult as a parent to balance the weight gain and social issues with that. Will try going off Periactin in summer per neurologist. Hopefully, the migraines will stay away, and she will be able to lose some of the weight."

• kep...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 1, 2020

"This cyproheptadine medication is great for my cyclic vomiting syndrome! It keeps me from being nauseous all the time. It does, however, cause me to gain more weight than I'd like (I gained 20 pounds while on this med), and I get pretty bad acid reflux sometimes as well. It definitely beats going to the emergency room twice a month, though."

• Jea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 6, 2012

For Migraine "My 7-year-old son has had these severe headaches, now believed to be migraines, since he was 3. With time, the headaches have become almost daily. One month to the day, my son has had only 1 headache! He has gained weight, though, which for him was okay because he was so, so skinny."

• Not...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 6, 2017

For Migraine "My doctor swapped me onto this medicine because I was getting married and hoping to have a more 'baby-friendly' medicine in case I got pregnant in the near future. On cyproheptadine, I felt like the medicine took some of the edge off my chronic migraines. The intensity lessened, but I saw no significant change in migraine frequency. I was taking 12 mg per day. But oh, the side effects! First, I felt this perpetual restless agitation. Second, I was hungry absolutely all the time. I have a great deal of self-control and was able to keep things at bay for a while, but my weight kept creeping up. In 6 months, I gained 15 lbs (my normal, very stable weight is 120 lbs, so this was a lot for me). Eventually, I decided this one wasn't for me."

• Qui...
• February 6, 2018

For Anorexia "So far, so good. Makes me really sleepy, but I'm eating like I'm pregnant with twins. I absolutely love it so far because all I'm doing is eating and laying around, and you know what that does? Weight gain. I'm so ready to see the results by my birthday."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 28, 2012

Cyproheptadine for Migraine "I have an awful case of migraines, therefore, my doctor prescribed me Periactin. I noticed a mood change and a huge weight gain of 40 lbs within 2 months. It stopped working for my migraines after a week, and then I was prescribed Topamax."

• Sha...
• June 20, 2014

Cyproheptadine for Urticaria "I've been on Periactin for about 6 months. I take 8 mg at night, but I can't get up on time in the morning, and the kids are late for school most days. I have found it works for my chronic urticaria but also noticed a huge weight gain. I was watching myself get fatter but didn't know why. After reading all the other reviews, I now know it is the Periactin, so I'm thinking of cutting back on the tablets. I need to lose weight. I feel horrible."

• Mom...
• June 29, 2016

For Migraine "My son has had migraines for years, but they only got worse the older he got. The day before the last day of school last year, he had such a bad migraine that he had a seizure. Fast forward to the neurologist appointment, and she decided to put him on this medication before trying a medication for seizures that she said would help the migraines also. He took this medicine every day in the mornings (it did not make him sleepy at all) for 11 months. He gained 40-45 pounds, and the medication stopped working for him. He got the daith piercing and is off the medication now. Migraine-free for 3 weeks, which is amazing for him! So, it didn't last for migraines for my son."

• Lac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2020

For Migraine "20 weeks pregnant and started getting a ton of migraines overnight. Neurologist gave me this prescription. It did significantly help keep away the migraines, but the side effects are horrible. Now I'm in withdrawal trying to wean off. I wish the Dr. had given me a clearer picture of what being on this drug is like. Restless legs at night. Heavy chest during the day. Get out of breath. Feel like I ran a marathon. I gained a ton of weight! No, not because I'm pregnant. I would prefer medicating migraines over taking this drug daily."

• Mam...
• January 25, 2020

For Migraine "My 8-year-old daughter was prescribed this medication for migraines. It has done wonders for her migraines, and she has gone from 4 attacks a week to none! Unfortunately, she is gaining an average of a pound a week. She is very active in basketball, 4-H, softball, running, and country living but is still gaining. She has been on the meds for 2 1/2 months and gained 10 lbs. We are going to try a different medication as we are concerned about the weight gain, which appears to be mostly fat."

• Sus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 9, 2018

For Allergic Reactions "I was given this in syrup form. And it has caused me to gain at least 40 pounds! The only scary side effect is if you take this on a daily basis, it will affect your period. I haven’t had my period in over two months, and I’m not pregnant."

• ell...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 4, 2017

For Migraine "I was prescribed this in July of 2017, and now it’s October of 2017, and I have gained 35 pounds from this. On top of that, it has done next to nothing for my migraines. Just a word of warning: if you have issues losing weight or have issues gaining too much, then this will be your enemy. (It is used by people who need to increase their weight.)"

• syb...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 15, 2017

For Allergic Reactions "Took Periactin successfully back in the 1980s for a brutal allergy attack that sent me to the ER. Benadryl injection worsened it, so my throat was closing, then they gave me a Valium injection to relax my airways. Sent me to a specialist who gave me Periactin, which cleared the hives and itching all over me. I've now learned I'm allergic to pine and cinnamon. My MD later changed it to Atarax when I started gaining too much weight, lol. Fast forward, I'm disabled with arthritis now on Mesicare, not a jolly Christmas shopper with these allergies, and my PCP tells me to take OTC allergy meds. Missing working, my allergy shots, too thin and coveting Periactin. Weight gain would be a great side effect to get some weight back. Great med."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 8, 2022

For Cluster Headaches "Cyproheptadine is also very effective for tension headaches. If you don't want to gain weight, you have to be careful and use it as needed, but I am thankful there is a medication that isn't a powerful pain reliever that works so well for almost any type of headache."

• Dra...
• August 27, 2015

For Migraine "I was prescribed this medication along with nortriptyline after a mild brain injury. It worked for the headaches, but caused dry mouth and weight gain. My doc thinks it's worse due to the med combo. I really want to go off the medication!"