Re: Phone call from the Pediatrician - Mimi

[Guest guest]

Hi Mimi

This was a post from quite a while ago. doesn't use

Periactin yet, but as I understand it, to avoided the nastier side effects

(moodiness, etc) you need to ramp up the dosage.

Hope this helps

Pat (g-ma to , RSS, 3 yrs old, 23.5# (10.7kg), 32.8 " (83.3cm),

G-Tube)

How to Begin the Dosing of Periactin/Cyproheptadine

For Your Child

Your child's physician will generally prescribe an amount of Periactin

(Cyproheptadine) that is given TWICE a day -- once about 30 minutes before

breakfast and once about 30-45 minutes before dinner. Please remember that

even if your child eats breakfast right away when he or she wakes up, don't

skip the morning dose!!!

Have your child weighed at your local physician's office right before

starting the medicine.

Week #1: Give 50% of the prescribed dinner dose, every night

Week #2: Now move to 100% of the prescribed dinner dose, every night

Week #3: Begin adding 50% of the prescribed morning dose, every morning AND

continue giving 100% of the prescribed dinner dose every night

(Antihistamines can make a child slightly sleepy in the beginning, which for

some children is also known to make them cranky. If after 3 days at the 50%

level, your child is still cranky, try moving the dosage down a bit to 25%

or so. Then at Week #4, you would go up a SMALLER amount, let's say now to

50%. Take whatever time is needed to gradually increase the morning dose if

you find that your child is sensitive. Children usually have no problem

with the nighttime dose; and most have no problem with the morning dose.)

Week #4: Now move to 100% of the prescribed morning dose every morning AND

continue with 100% of the prescribed dinner dose every night.

After the first 4 weeks on the medicine, have your child weighed again.

Remember two things: EVEN if you think your child isn't eating any extra

amount, do NOT stop the medicine. Believe it or not, one Saltine cracker a

day over a year adds up to the calories equivalent to ONE pound! Second of

all, remember that even after

the first month on Periactin/Cyproheptadine, your child has really only been

on the full dose for one week, so give it time!

If after two months, your child hasn't gained any weight, your physician may

want to try slightly increasing the dosage.