Side Effects:

Common Sleepiness.

Common Increased liver enzymes, Diarrhoea, Headache, Nausea, Skin rash.

Expert advice for Cyproheptadine
Avoid driving or operating dangerous machinery as it may decrease alertness. Avoid consuming alcohol when taking the Cyproheptadine, as it may cause excessive sleepiness or drowsiness.

Expert advice for Febuxor Tablet
Your doctor has prescribed Febuxor to reduce episodes of gout attack. Take Febuxor at the same time every day, with or without food. Take plenty of fluids (2-3 litres) daily while on Febuxor. Notify your doctor if you develop a rash. This could be a sign of allergy and should go away on discontinuing Febuxor. To ensure that Febuxor is working, you may have to undergo blood tests regularly. When you first start taking Febuxor, you might have more gout attacks. Do not stop Febuxor on having an acute attack of gout as that could make an attack worse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is cyproheptadine used to gain weight/for headaches?
No, cyproheptadine is used for treatment of allergies. Patient should follow the advice of doctor regarding its use

Q. Is cyproheptadine a narcotic/antihistamine/anticholinergic/steroid?
Cyproheptadine is antihistaminic drug which may have anticholinergic effects. It is not a narcotic/steroid

Q. Is cyproheptadine over the counter?
No, it is available with doctor's prescription only

Q. Is cyproheptadine safe?
It is safe if used at prescribed dose and duration as advised by your doctor

Q. Can I take cyproheptadine with Benadryl/Tylenol/ibuprofen?
Yes, but Benadryl contains some amount of antihistaminic drug which may alter the effects of cyproheptadine. Always consult your doctor for the change of dose regimen or an alternative drug of choice that may strictly be required

Q. Does cyproheptadine get you high/make you gain weight/increase appetite/make you hungry?
Cyproheptadine causing these side effects is rare or uncommon. However, always consult your doctor if you experience such side effects

Q. Does cyproheptadine affect birth control?
No, it does not affect birth control. Patient should follow the advice of doctor before its use

Q. Does cyproheptadine have codeine/acetaminophen in it?
No, it does not contain codeine/acetaminophen in it.

Q. Can I take Febuxor with rosuvastatin?
Rosuvastatin can be taken with Febuxor. Rosuvastatin is used to lower bad cholesterol and Febuxor is used to lower uric acid levels in patients with gout. Many patients of high cholesterol levels also have high uric acid levels. There are no human studies available on this interaction. However, animal research shows that when given together, Febuxor can increase the blood levels of Rosuvastatin causing a higher risk of its side effects like muscle pain and muscle damage. So, a dose adjustment of Rosuvastatin may be needed when given along with Febuxor.

Q. Does Febuxor cause frequent urination?
Febuxor is not known to cause frequent urination. However, if you experience any such symptom while using the drug, consult your doctor.

Q. How does Febuxor work for the treatment of gout?
Gout is a type of arthritis in which uric acid levels are very high in the blood and they get deposited in the joints causing swelling, redness and sudden pain in these joints. Febuxor works by inhibiting the enzyme xanthine oxidase involved in the synthesis of uric acid and hence decreases the level of uric acid in the blood.

Q. Is Febuxor a steroid?
No, Febuxor is not a steroid. It is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor and decreases the serum uric acid levels.

Q. Is Febuxor useful in lowering the triglyceride levels?
Febuxor is not indicated for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia. Conclusive evidence showing the drug lowering triglyceride levels is lacking.

Q. How long does Febuxor take to work?
After oral intake, the peak plasma concentration of Febuxor is achieved between 1 to 1.5 hours. However, it may take a few days to weeks to show its effect and you can experience gout attacks during this time. Continue to take your medicine during this time as with continuous use these attacks would decrease.

Q. Is Febuxor an over the counter product?
Febuxor is not an over the counter product. It is a prescription medicine and is available as per the doctor's advice.

Q. Is Febuxor safe to use for a long time?
Studies have shown that Febuxor is safe for long-term use. However, it should be taken only for the duration as per the doctor's advice.

Q. Can Febuxor be used for the treatment of heart failure?
Febuxor is not indicated for the treatment of heart failure. However, high uric acid levels is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and the benefit of urate-lowering therapy for cardiac diseases is being explored.

Q. Is Febuxor useful for treating chronic kidney disease?
Febuxor is not indicated for the treatment of chronic kidney disease. However, it can be safely used in patients with mild to moderate renal failure for lowering uric acid levels. Safety of the drug in severe renal failure is not established.

Q. Can I use Febuxor for cancer?
Febuxor is not used for the treatment of cancer. However, patients with malignant cancer when given anti-cancer drugs, experience a serious condition known as tumor lysis syndrome characterized by increased potassium, phosphate and uric acid levels in the blood due to the killing of cancer cells and this can lead to acute kidney injury, cardiac arrhythmia, and seizures. Febuxor helps in this condition by lowering the uric acid levels and preventing further complications.

Q. Can I take Febuxor with allopurinol?
Both Febuxor and allopurinol are uric acid lowering agents and work in a similar way. So, using both the two medicines together may not be very beneficial and can increase the risk of side effects. However, there have been studies where Febuxor when used with allopurinol in patients with refractory gout, was quite effective in providing relief. So, a combined use would be best decided by your treating doctor depending on your condition.

Q. Is Febuxor useful for treating kidney stones?
Febuxor is not indicated in the treatment of kidney stones. However, some studies show that high renal uric acid excretion may precipitate the formation of calcium stones in the kidney and hence, suggest Febuxor may have a role in the reduction of stone formation.

Q. Can I take Febuxor with colchicine?
Febuxor can be taken with colchicine. In the initial few days of starting Febuxor, patients may experience an increase in gout attacks because of the movement of uric acid and colchicine and painkillers are given to these patients for the relief of pain and inflammation.

Q. Can I take Febuxor with azathioprine?
Febuxor should not be taken with azathioprine. Taking both the medicines together will increase the levels of azathioprine and can cause toxicity.

Q. Can I take Febuxor with antibiotics?
Febuxor can generally be taken safely together with antibiotics. However, interactions can occur. Talk to your doctor about the right antibiotic therapy for your condition while you are also taking Febuxor.

Q. What are the contraindications to the use of Febuxor?
Use of Febuxor is contraindicated in patients being treated with azathioprine, mercaptopurine, theophylline, and in patients who develop hypersensitivity to the drug.