1. Safety of Cyproheptadine, an Orexigenic Drug. Analysis of the French National Pharmacovigilance Data-Base and Systematic Review
- Author
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Valérie Bertrand, Nathalie Massy, Nancy Vegas, Valérie Gras, Christel Chalouhi, Marie-Pierre Tavolacci, Véronique Abadie, Nutrition, inflammation et dysfonctionnement de l'axe intestin-cerveau (ADEN), Université de Rouen Normandie (UNIROUEN), Normandie Université (NU)-Normandie Université (NU)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB), Normandie Université (NU)-Normandie Université (NU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Groupe Hospitalier du Havre Hôpital Jacques Monod (MONTIVILLIERS) (GHH), CHU Rouen, Normandie Université (NU), Service de pédiatrie générale [CHU Necker], Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (AP-HP)-CHU Necker - Enfants Malades [AP-HP], Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (AP-HP), Centre Maladie Rare Mucoviscidose et Maladies du CFTR (CHU Necker - Enfants Malades [AP-HP]), CHU Necker - Enfants Malades [AP-HP], Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (AP-HP)-Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (AP-HP), CHU Amiens-Picardie, UNIROUEN - UFR Santé (UNIROUEN UFR Santé), Normandie Université (NU)-Normandie Université (NU), Centre d'Investigation Clinique [CHU Rouen] (CIC Rouen), Hôpital Charles Nicolle [Rouen]-CHU Rouen, Normandie Université (NU)-Normandie Université (NU)-Université de Rouen Normandie (UNIROUEN), Normandie Université (NU)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Normandie Université (NU)-Normandie Université (NU)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Hôpital Charles Nicolle [Rouen], Normandie Université (NU)-Normandie Université (NU)-CHU Rouen, and douville, sabine
- Subjects
Pediatrics ,medicine.medical_specialty ,[SDV.MHEP.PHY] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Human health and pathology/Tissues and Organs [q-bio.TO] ,Cyproheptadine ,Hepatic Complication ,RJ1-570 ,law.invention ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Randomized controlled trial ,law ,Orexigenic ,Pharmacovigilance ,[SDV.MHEP.PHY]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Human health and pathology/Tissues and Organs [q-bio.TO] ,medicine ,orexigenic ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Adverse effect ,Original Research ,business.industry ,liver failure ,cyproheptadine ,adverse (side) effects ,3. Good health ,cholestase ,Clinical trial ,Poor Appetite ,appetite ,Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health ,business ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,medicine.drug - Abstract
Objectives: Cyproheptadine is a first-generation H1-antihistamine drug first that was distributed in the 1960s. While its orexigenic effect was observed early, cyproheptadine is not yet authorized for this indication in all countries today. There is an increasing medical interest and demand for the orexigenic effect of cyproheptadine, especially in children with poor appetite. As cyproheptadine might be evaluated in future clinical trials, we wanted to assess its safety profile.Methods: Using the French national pharmacovigilance database, we retrospectively analyzed all pediatric and adult reports of adverse effects of cyproheptadine recorded since its first distribution in France. Next, we performed a systematic review of the literature of cyproheptadine adverse effects.Results: Since 1985, 93 adverse effects were reported in the French pharmacovigilance database (adults 81.7%, children 18.3%); these were mainly neurological symptoms (n = 38, adults 71%, children 28.9%), and hepatic complications (n = 15, adults 86.7%, children 13.3%). In the literature, the most frequent adverse effect reported was drowsiness in adults or children, and five case reports noted liver complications in adults. We estimated the frequency of hepatic adverse effects at 0.27 to 1.4/1000, regardless of age.Conclusion: Cyproheptadine can be considered a safe drug. Mild neurological effects appear to be frequent, and hepatotoxicity is uncommon to rare. Randomized controlled trials are needed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cyproheptadine before authorization for appetite stimulation, especially in young children as studies at this age are lacking. Possible hepatic complications should be monitored, as very rare cases of liver failure have been reported.
- Published
- 2021
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