Periactin to stimulate appetite?

[laughinplace199]

Does anyone have any experience with taking Periactin to stimulate appetite? Our pediatrician mentioned it as an option for DS4.

 

[C.Ann]

Does anyone have any experience with taking Periactin to stimulate appetite? Our pediatrician mentioned it as an option for DS4.

Never heard of it, but please tell me what it is!! I've always been underweight and for the past year and a half or so, severely underweight (82 lbs. - fully clothed..) I eat what I can, drink Boost (per my doctors orders), but if I had a bigger appetite, maybe I could at least get up to 100 lbs..

I would be interested in hearing about this - and what others have to say about it..

 

[laughinplace199]

My pediatrician described it as an antihistamine that often causes people to gain weight. Therefore, most people don't like to take it as an antihistamine. But, he said it is sometimes used to try to "reset" the appetite.

 

[Mandychelle79]

When I worked in a nursing home one of the first apetite stimulants that was tried was periactin, because it is a very small pill and patients would usually take it. Worked well for most of them

 

[C.Ann]

My pediatrician described it as an antihistamine that often causes people to gain weight. Therefore, most people don't like to take it as an antihistamine. But, he said it is sometimes used to try to "reset" the appetite.

Interesting.. Thank you for responding.. I'll have to google it and see what's out there.. Is it prescription or OTC? (I tend to be very sensitive to medications - even OTC ones..)

Is this a case where your son had a decent appetite and then for some reason he lost it?

I hope someone here has some experience with it and can help you..

 

[laughinplace199]

I don't know if it's prescription or OTC. If we decide to give it a try, I will let you know.

DS has never been a good eater, even as a baby. He is gaining weight at his own rate, but he's very thin. He just doesn't seem to care much about food.

I hope that you find something that works for you. I will pass along any info I find about periactin.

 

[hambirg]

Is there a reason that he would want to give it to a 4yr old? I can't speak to C.Ann. . .sounds like it would be an option for her.

BUT, it seems to me that 4 is the typical age that kids don't want to seem to eat. . .and they are pretty gangly at that age. I know mine were. Their doctor always told me that they won't starve themselves. It's just a phase they seem to go through at 4. Is there something else going on with your son? Sorry I don't know anything about that med. I was just throwing that out there, because I remember being concerned about my kids at that age. They just weren't interested in eating much and had no appetite. That plus being on the skinny side to begin with worried me a bit.

 

[hambirg]

I don't know if it's prescription or OTC. If we decide to give it a try, I will let you know.

DS has never been a good eater, even as a baby. He is gaining weight at his own rate, but he's very thin. He just doesn't seem to care much about food.

I hope that you find something that works for you. I will pass along any info I find about periactin.

Ok. . .so he doesn't have any other types of health issues that would make it a big concern?

My pediatrician had just told me to try and get some calorie dense foods in them that I know they would eat; like ice cream, chocolate milk, etc. he told me to try things like Pediasure too, but my kids never liked it.

 

[C.Ann]

I don't know if it's prescription or OTC. If we decide to give it a try, I will let you know.

DS has never been a good eater, even as a baby. He is gaining weight at his own rate, but he's very thin. He just doesn't seem to care much about food.

I hope that you find something that works for you. I will pass along any info I find about periactin.

Thanks.. I'd appreciate that..

I hope you can find something that will work well for your son..

 

[Hannathy]

yeah I can't imagine giving a med to a child without a medical reason for them to not eat. What does it matter if they are skinny? I always try to avoid giving any med unless I have to.

My DS is as skinny as they come-not even on the weight part of the growth charts for his age BUT he has always been skinny. His DR isn't concerned and either am I because his line on the chart goes up but at his speed! Unless your son suddenly started to loose weight I would just figure that is the way he is programmed.

my DS is 12 and weighs 60 pounds.

 

[AmazingGrace]

My son is on periactin for allergies. His ped also said that it would help his migraines and it has. My dh also sees it prescribed to his PTSD patients to get rid of nightmares.

 

[Green Tea]

oh , I was thinking of a different antihistamine. sorry. Can't delete

 

[golfgal]

Interesting.. Thank you for responding.. I'll have to google it and see what's out there.. Is it prescription or OTC? (I tend to be very sensitive to medications - even OTC ones..)

Is this a case where your son had a decent appetite and then for some reason he lost it?

I hope someone here has some experience with it and can help you..

Do you take a full adult dose of your meds? If so, try taking a child's dose. I have a friend that is small like you and was having issues with OTC meds. Because she only weighs 80 lbs her dr said she should NOT take the adult dose. The "adult" dose is really for people over 100 lbs. It isn't age so much as weight that is important.

 

[Mermaid02]

I believe it is a prescription.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Does anyone have any experience with taking Periactin to stimulate appetite? Our pediatrician mentioned it as an option for DS4.

I would be hesitant for a ped to prescribe something for a "specialist" area, speaking as a mom who has 2 dd's with medical issues. Oldest had a congenital heart defect and younger dd who born "SGA" which is small for gestational age. My youngest ended up on growth hormone and guess what she gained weight finally. She also had constipation issues which also suppresses appetite.

It may not be "appetite" but a lack of hormone. You would need to see a endocrinologist for that.

Is your child not growing the minimum per yr, failure to thrive, or not on the charts?

You can certainly try the antihistimine, I don't see the harm in that.

However I am curious with your child's growth chart. That is really where you need to put your focus.

 

[keetmommy]

My dd (8) is using it as an appetite stimulant, She has a brain tumor which really messed up her eating ALOT, it has helped some...still ended up with a feeding tube BUT...it did help her headaches alot and really has no other side effect from it...it is an anti-histamine, small pill and if you aren't taking the full does it is even smaller...

 

[C.Ann]

Do you take a full adult dose of your meds? If so, try taking a child's dose. I have a friend that is small like you and was having issues with OTC meds. Because she only weighs 80 lbs her dr said she should NOT take the adult dose. The "adult" dose is really for people over 100 lbs. It isn't age so much as weight that is important.

Not to hijack this thread, but no - I don't take an adult dose of any kind of OTC's - and when it comes to prescription meds, then give me half of a childs dose.. It can be difficult at times - and there's a lot of trial and error - but I manage the best I can..

Just wish I could "fatten up" a bit because the lack of weight is one (although not "all) of the reasons I'm have such problems with my tailbone.. The most I've ever weighed (not counting pregnancy) is 112 lbs.. That was for a fairly short time though - average was more like 102 lbs..

Now back to the regularly scheduled programming...LOL..

 

[Nancyg56]

My DGD was diagnosed with Failure to Thrive. She would nto eat, she simply did not feel any hunger. Her pediatrician had my DD give her a dose of Periactin an hour prior to her meals and it helped to stimulate her appetite.

She was just a baby at the time and it really helped her. I do nto think a Dr would prescribe it lightly. SHe was under the care of several specialists at teh time.

 

[heart4pooh]

My son takes periactin every other day to maintain his appetite. He has a history of failure to thrive and the doctors are unsure why he doesn't seem to metabolize iron properly.He's also on daily growth hormone injections.

Periactin works very well, that's why he takes it every other day. He was hungry all the time when he took it daily. He was 9 yrs old and weighed 46 lbs. He's now 12 and weighs 94lbs. More importantly, he's much healthier.

 

[Anne MN]

my DD took it for a while, failure to thrive, under care of many specialists. she was 13yrs old and 48lbs when she was transplanted. she ended up having a G-tube for a while. she is now 15 and over 60lbs and will actualy eat "unhealthy" food like pizza. her snacks would be salad, carrots, pickles, cheese... things with no calories