[ effect of intrathecal administration of cocaine and serotonergic antagonist [cyproheptadine] on nociception in rat]

Cocaine by effect on central nervous system inhibits reuptake of monoamines [serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine] to presynaptic terminal and increases their concentration. Monoamines such as serotonin cause analgesia at the spinal level. This study investigates the effects of systemic and spinal administration of cocaine on pain sensation and the relation between these effects and serotonin. Male Wistar rats [200-250g] were set in groups: saline [i.p], saline/DMSO [i.p], cocaine 25mg/kg [i.p], saline [i.t], saline/DMSO [i.t], cocaine 100micro g/10 micro l [i.t], cyproheptadine 33 micro g/10 micro l [i.t.] and cyproheptadine 33 micro g/10 micro l/cocaine 100 micro g/10 micro l [i.t]. Tail flick latency was measured before and after administration. Intraplantar formalin was used for induction of chemical pain. The data was analyzed by T-Test and ANOVA. Pain in both phases of formalin test was reduced in both cocaine 25mg/kg [i.p] [P<0.01] and cocaine 100 micro g/10 micro l [i.t.] [P<0.01]. However, in cyproheptadine 33 micro g/10 micro l [i.t], was increased in the first phase [P<0.01]. In cyproheptadine 33 micro g/10 micro l/cocaine 100 micro g/10 micro l [i.t.], the part of pain reduction induced by cocaine was reversed, in both phases [P<0.01]. In tail flick test the results of cyproheptadine 33 micro g/10 micro l [i.t.] showed reduced tail flick latency [P<0.001]. Inhibition of serotonin reuptake at the spinal level plays role in analgesic effects of cocaine probably, because release of serotonin from the spinal serotonergic terminals causes inhibition of pain neurons and reduction of pain. In addition, inhibition of spinal serotonin receptors by cyproheptadine reduced part of analgesic effects of cocaine probably

A double blind controlled study of propranolol and cyproheptadine in migraine prophylaxis.

Role of propranolol and cyproheptadine in the prophylaxis of migraine was studied in a controlled double blind trial. Two hundred fifty-nine patients were divided into four groups. Each group was either given a placebo, cyproheptadine, propranolol or a combination of the latter two drugs. The patients were followed for a period of three months. Significant relief in frequency, duration and severity from migranous attacks was seen in all drug treated groups over placebo. Significant correlation in response was seen in frequency, duration and severity in all the groups which received drugs. Statistically more significant relief was seen in cyproheptadine and propranolol treated group as compared to individual drug treated groups. In cyproheptadine and propranolol treated groups, the dropout rate was lower and associated symptoms were better relieved than in other groups. The study shows efficacy of combination of cyproheptadine and propranolol in migraine prophylaxis.

Intoxicación por ciproheptadina / Intoxication by cyproheptadine

La intoxicación por ciproheptadina, principal componente de los estimulantes del apetito, se ha transformado en un importante motivo de consulta en los servicios de urgencia a lo largo del país. Estos fármacos, utilizados muchas veces sin prescripción médica, dado su agradable sabor resultan atractivos para los preescolares quienes los ingieren en dosis que sobrepasan el nivel terapéutico, desencadenando cuadros muy variados, que van desde excitación psicomotora hasta la muerte

Peptidergic mechanisms in feeding behaviour.

Hyperphagia was induced in mice by p.o. administration of different types of CNS depressant drugs, like chlordiazepoxide 25 mg/kg diazepam 2.5 mg/kg, cyproheptadine 2 mg/kg and phenobarbitone 25 mg/kg. Such hyperphagia was abolished by pretreatment with naloxone 0.1 mg/kg sc. Naloxone per se at this dose produced no significant effect on the food intake. This is suggestive of the role of peptidergic mechanisms in the feeding behaviour in mice.

Brain cholesterol and phospholipid levels in cyproheptadine treated albino rats.

Effect of different doses (2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg and 40 mg/kg), s.c., for 2 weeks, of cyproheptadine (CYP) on brain cholesterol and phospholipid of albino rats was investigated. Cyp. 2.5 mg/kg, showed increase in brain cholesterol and phospholipid contents whereas other doses caused a decrease in phospholipid level.

High altitude exposure on body weight in male rats: effect of cyproheptadine

The role of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) as mediator of body weight changes during high altitude exposure was investigated in male rats using cyproheptadine, a 5-HT antagonist. At sea level male rats dayly injected with either 10mg/kg of cyproheptadine chlorhydrate or saline solution showed no differences in body weight after five days of treatment. Other rats were acutely exposed to an altitude of 4,338 m. and they were daily injected with either cyproheptadine vehicle. Tat weight was recorded daily of exposure, a similar reduction in body weight was observed in both groups. After three days of exposure at high altitude, cyproheptadine-treated group decreases body weight to a lesser extent then the control group. Between the third and fourth days of permanence at high altitude a gain of weight only occurred in the cyproheptanide treated group. Since cyproheptadine and saline treated groups at sea level showed the same pattern of weight curves whereas hypoxic male animals cyproheptadine-treated group had a better weight than those obtained in saline treated group, it is suggested that 5-HT may be mediating body weight reduction during high altitude exposure of male rats

Comparative effects of loratadine and azatadine in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.

The efficacy and safety of loratadine 10 mg once daily were compared with azatadine 1 mg twice daily in controlling symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis. The study was a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group design involving 34 patients receiving either loratadine or azatadine for 14 days. Both treatments were effective in relieving the histamine-mediated symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis. At baseline, 100% and 93% of the patients in the loratadine and azatadine treatment groups, respectively, had moderate or severe symptoms of disease; at endpoint of treatment 80% of the patients in the loratadine treatment group and 92% of those in the azatadine treatment group had mild or no disease symptoms. Sedation was reported by fewer patients in the loratadine treatment group than in the azatadine group. Thus loratadine is an effective and safe antihistamine when given once daily for the symptomatic relief of seasonal allergic rhinitis.