MDose · Veterinary drug reference
CYPROHEPTADINE
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Source overview
Recorded excerpts for one species. Each dose remains a separate source entry; no regimen is selected.
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Pending clinical review (PROPOSED)— applies to the facts and dose entries in this species selection; individual source records retain their own status.
Indications5
Appetite stimulant (primary use); pruritus/asthma adjunct (marginal efficacy — not monotherapy for eosinophilic airway disease)
CatExtra-label (EXTRA_LABEL)1 source record · View provenance
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Appetite stimulant (primary use); pruritus/asthma adjunct (marginal efficacy — not monotherapy for eosinophilic airway disease) — Extra-label (human drug)
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Serotonin syndrome antidote (adjunct)
DogCatExtra-label (EXTRA_LABEL)2 source records · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Serotonin syndrome antidote (adjunct) — Extra-label
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Serotonin syndrome antidote (adjunct) — Extra-label
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Cushing's adjunct (antiserotonin) — <10% efficacy, largely abandoned
DogExtra-label (EXTRA_LABEL)1 source record · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Cushing's adjunct (antiserotonin) — <10% efficacy, largely abandoned — Extra-label
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Photic head-shaking, equine Cushing's
HorseExtra-label (EXTRA_LABEL)1 source record · View provenance
- Horse · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Photic head-shaking, equine Cushing's — Extra-label
- Horse · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Dose regimens6
This calculator performs arithmetic only on the sourced dosing field shown for each result — it does not verify the field's accuracy, does not select which field to use for a patient, and does not replace a veterinarian's order. Not for clinical use. Confirm every result against the primary source before dispensing.
Choose one species above to view its dose calculator.
Adverse effects203
Sedation — Main effect
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Paradoxical hyperexcitability — Documented
CatNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Anticholinergic effects (dry mouth, urine retention, GI stasis) — Class
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Hemolytic anemia reports — Rare feline reports
CatNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
These are counts of spontaneously reported events, not proven adverse effects, causal relationships, or incidence rates.
Bars compare report counts within each species; they do not show incidence.
More reportsFewer reportsDog
- Ataxia4 reports
- Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological')4 reports
- Panting4 reports
- Behavioural disorder NOS3 reports
- Death3 reports
- Death by euthanasia3 reports
- Lack of efficacy - NOS3 reports
- Restlessness3 reports
- Vocalisation3 reports
- Vomiting3 reports
- Unable to stand2 reports
- Abnormal breathing2 reports
Cat
- Weight loss21 reports
- Anorexia14 reports
- Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological')13 reports
- Behavioural disorder NOS11 reports
- Death10 reports
- Death by euthanasia10 reports
- Vomiting10 reports
- Ataxia9 reports
- Anaemia NOS8 reports
- Decreased appetite8 reports
- Not eating8 reports
- Dehydration7 reports
Monitoring1
Appetite response; sedation/excitement; PCV if long-term feline use (hemolysis reports)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Monitoring Parameters · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Precautions5
Urinary/GI obstruction, severe CHF, narrow-angle glaucoma (anticholinergic load)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
The anti-serotonin Swiss-army knife: appetite stimulant by 5-HT2 blockade, serotonin-syndrome antidote in the same species — the antagonist partner to the SSRI/tramadol/MAOI overdose picture.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Feline appetite ladder: mirtazapine > cyproheptadine > oxazepam — cyproheptadine is the cheap BID option with sedation as its tax.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Not monotherapy for feline asthma/eosinophilic airway disease (Schooley) — marginal benefit at best.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Paradoxical excitement in a sedative = classic feline antihistamine behavior.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Interactions3
SSRIs/TCAs — Pharmacologic opposites — but deliberately used to REVERSE serotonin syndrome
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Other anticholinergics/antihistamines — Additive
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
MAOIs — Human caution
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pharmacokinetics2
Mechanism — H1 blocker + 5-HT2 serotonin antagonist — the dual identity
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Metabolism — Hepatic
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pregnancy / lactation considerations1
Avoid (class caution, no established safety).
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 333–334; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Pregnancy & Lactation · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Literature references17
References are linked to this drug. Species applicability is not recorded here, so the species filter does not narrow this list. Imported dates do not retain their original precision; confirm dates in the original citation.
- Influenza a Virus Inhibition: Evaluating Computationally Identified Cyproheptadine Through In Vitro Assessment.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Effects of Capromorelin, Mirtazapine, and Cyproheptadine on Food Intake in Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus).
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Early treatment with fluvoxamine, bromhexine, cyproheptadine, and niclosamide to prevent clinical deterioration in patients with symptomatic COVID-19: a randomized clinical trial.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Anti-depressant Effect of Betaine Mediates via Nitrergic and Serotoninergic Systems in Ovariectomized Mice.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Sensitive Immunochromatographic Assay Using Highly Luminescent Quantum Dot Nanobeads as Tracer for the Detection of Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride in Animal-Derived Food.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
Sources: PubMed, National Library of Medicine; openFDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Appendix: Drug Dosage Chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629-632.; Plumb DC. Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook. 7th ed. PharmaVet Inc; 2011.
Owner information handout
Plain-language medication information to review with the owner. Open the handout to print it or download a PDF.