You may have been hearing of the Apetamin pill without having ever seen it. The reason why it seems scarce or hard to find is because it is tagged as illegal. This makes information about the drug very lean as well. Although you may already know that Apetamin is targeted for those who have been trying to put on some weight for a very long time. But is there anything wrong with using Apetamin pills? Are apetamin pills safe? First, we have to find out what the drug is for.
What is Apetamin?
Apetamin is a vitamin supplement that has been touted to help the user gain weight. It is a drug developed by TIL Healthcare PVT, a company based in India. It comes in both syrups and pills. Apetamin is sold widely in Nigeria. It contains three main ingredients.
- Cyproheptadine: this is a known compound that stimulates appetite, encouraging the user to eat more.
- Lysine: This is an essential amino acid that the body does not produce. But it stimulates the production of collagen and certain enzymes and hormones.
- Vitamins: we all know how important vitamins are to the body. Apetamin specifically contains vitamins A, C, D, and E. [1]
Apetamin comes in both syrups and pills. It is not approved by many health agencies around the United States and the world and only enjoys increased usage in India because the laws in the country allow it. [2]
How Does Apetamin Work?
Apetamin has been noted to increase appetite. This may be due to the combination of compounds in it, especially the cyproheptadine. Cyproheptadine increases one appetite by acting on the hypothalamus, which is a section of the brain in charge of things, including food intake. Many people turn to the drug as a last resort after having tried other ways to gain weight. It is marketed as any other vitamin stimulants on various websites, except that it contains cyproheptadine.
Cyproheptadine is a prescription-only drug administered to those who have allergies like runny nose, itching, and watery eyes. This is because it is an anti-histamine. So the drug is only taken as recommended by the doctor. Therefore, taking it in a supplement without due consultation with a doctor is simply drug abuse. [3]
Does Apetamin Work?
The extent of Apetamin’s potency is still under study as there has been no direct link between consuming the drug and gaining weight. What has been observed, however, is that it increases appetite and slows down metabolism, making it easier for the user to gain more weight within a short while. What this ultimately means is that you will still have to rely on food to gain weight as the pills do not function on their own.
Because people’s bodies are made up differently, Apetamin may not work on everyone. It should not also be used repeatedly because it poses a health risk due to the fact that it contains a prescription drug. It should not also be used with other drugs, like antidepressants and even alcohol, because it has a high chance of reacting with them. Apetamin would also not work on people with certain conditions or disorders like anorexia or bulimia.
46 studies were reviewed to show the effectiveness of apetamin in people with varying medical conditions. The review found out that the apetamin worked well and helped underweight individuals gain weight. However, it did not help people with progressive diseases, like HIV and cancer gain weight. [4]
Legality
Apetamin is banned in several countries, and this may be due to the fact that it contains cyproheptadine. A prescription drug like that should not be mixed with any other drugs and taken for pleasure purposes. This means that the drug would be unavailable in pharmacies and health stores. Although it exists on several websites that sell similar banned or illegal substances, it may also be marketed under various other names or with serious misinformation to cajole people into buying it, including dismissing some of the health concerns connected with consuming cyproheptadine. So one has to be careful of the kind of supplements they purchase online. [5]
However, Apetamin is being used in Nigeria. It is used by ladies for butt, breast and hip enlargement. The price of apetamin in Nigeria ranges from ₦3,000 to ₦10,000 depending on the size of the syrup bottle. But note, that Apetamin has not been approved National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Is It Safe to Take Apetamin?
Taking Apetamin is a serious risk, without mincing words. Its illegal status is enough warning to anyone thinking of trying the supplements for any reason. Also, there is the reality that consuming Apetamin is consuming cyproheptadine, a prescription drug, and increased consumption would affect your body negatively. Consuming cyproheptadine without care can cause damages to your body, such as liver failure or even kill you. Many women have started turning to the supplements to help them gain their desired shape, such as having bigger buttocks and wider hips. That does not reduce the negative effect the supplements can have on your body. [6]
Thus is it not recommended to take apetamin pills. Rather, talk to your physician to help you choose the safest and effective treatment option that will help you in gaining weight or if you have a medical condition that reduces your appetite
Side Effects
The side effects concerned with Apetamin include constipation, nausea, blurred vision, irritability, liver failure, and even death. [7]
Additionally, apetamin can interact other substances such as alcohol, grapefruit and juice. It can also interact with other drugs, such as antidepressants, Parkinson’s disease medications, and other antihistamines. [8]
Conclusion
Despite the promises that Apetamin could help you gain the weight you have been seeking for years, the cons far outweigh the pros, and you should not be using the supplements for anything. Ordinarily, one should not even be taking any drug that has been banned or deemed illegal as there is a reason for that. There are other healthier and natural ways to gain weight rather than depending on such types of supplements.
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Collins Nwokolo is a human physiologist, writer and health enthusiast. He loves writing helpful articles on health and fitness, which he enjoys sharing with everyone.
