Congenital morphological and skeletal abnormalities of cyproheptadine hydrochloride [periactin] in rats

Cyprotoheptadine hydrochloride [periactin] is one of the antihistaminic drugs which are widely used and frequently described. The aim of this work is to evaluate and find out the effects of periactin on the offsprings of the pregnant rats. It is given orally in a dose of 1.8 mg/kgm to pregnant rats which are divided into 3 groups according to the period of pregnancy. Several morphological and skeletal abnormalities are observed among the offspring. It can be concluded that periactin is a dangerous antihistaminic on the off springs of the rats, hence it is better to be avoided at any time during pregnancy