With more and more ladies trying to be like the Kardashians, we have seen several illegal drugs showing up, with Apetamin being a peculiar one. This drug has grown tremendously in popularity, in a matter of years, compared to many other products that have been around. Its success can be attributed to the fact that it is claimed to be good at what it was designed to do. However, as we are yet to see this drug approved by NAFDAC, it is worthwhile taking some time to see if it is safe using it.
What is Apetamin?
Apetamin, as claimed by its manufacturers, is a vitamin syrup which can be pretty helpful in gaining weight. This weight gain syrup is a product of an India-based company known as TIL Healthcare PVT. The manufacturer, TIL Healthcare PVT, has been around for a while, and Apetamin is not the only drug the company has produced. The company showed up in 2012, and it seems to targets not just India, but the whole world at large.
According to the manufacture of Apetamin, 1 teaspoon, which equals 5 ml, of the Apetamin syrup contains:
- Cyproheptadine hydrochloride: 2 mg
- L-lysine hydrochloride: 150 mg
- Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) hydrochloride: 1 mg
- Thiamine (vitamin B1) hydrochloride: 2 mg
- Nicotinamide (vitamin B3): 15 mg
- Dexpanthenol (an alternative form of vitamin B5): 4.5 mg
The company claims that by combining lysine, vitamins, and cyproheptadine, people who have always desired gaining some weight can now have some serious amount of weight. However, according to a trusted source, only cyproheptadine was proven to be capable of increasing appetite.
It is, however, worthwhile stating that this would not be the first seeing cyproheptadine in a drug. Cyproheptadine hydrochloride is also commonly used as an antihistamine, with antihistamine happening to be a drug that is used to ease allergy symptoms. And some of these symptoms include runny nose, itching, hives, and watery eyes. The substance works by inhibiting the release of more histamine, a substance that gets released when under an allergic reaction.
While Apetamin is more popular as a syrup, we happen to have seen the drug in tablet form as well. As most national and international food and drug agencies are yet to approve Apetamin, it would be pretty difficult stating if using the drug is safe. And as the drug is yet to be approved, selling or buying Apetamin is illegal in this country.
However, despite the fact that this so claimed weight gain supplement is an unapproved drug, we still see a lot of online stores selling it.
How does Apetamin work?
While we are yet to hear of a thorough study of how Apetamin works, we are aware of the fact that part of the ways the drug enables weight gain, is by increasing appetite, thanks to the cyproheptadine hydrochloride contained in the drug. But how exactly does the cyproheptadine hydrochloride increase appetite, that is a question we are currently unable to answer. However, there are several theories on how this substance increases appetite.
Cyproheptadine hydrochloride seems to increase appetite in a number of ways. First, it achieves this by increasing levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). And the IGF-1 is well-know to related to weight gain.
It also seems like the cyproheptadine hydrochloride acts on the hypothalamus of the human brain. This part of the brain happens to be responsible for regulating things like appetite, food intake, and hormones. In addition, the hypothalamus also regulates a good number of other biological functions. However, these are just still theories, and can not be taken so seriously.
Aside from containing cyproheptadine hydrochloride, the Apetamin is also claimed to contain the amino acid l-lysine, a substance which has been linked to increased appetite in animals.
Is it effective for weight gain?
According to people who have used this product, Apetamin seems to be pretty good what it does. And when we studied research papers, cyproheptadine hydrochloride, which is used in the product, is said to be capable of aiding weight gain, for people who are quite underweight. However, while the drug might work for underweight people, Apetamin does not seem to be ideal for people with progressive diseases like HIV and cancer. In fact, it is recommended that the drug is kept away from these kinds of people.
It was also claimed that while the use of this drug may not be a big problem for people who are underweight, it is not advisable for people who already have a healthy weight. The reason for this is that people who already have a healthy weight, risk the chance of gaining excessive weight. And obesity could trigger other serious diseases.
Is Apetamin legal?
As long as Apetamin does not get approved, the drug will remain an illegal one. However, it is worthwhile noting that this drug is not only illegal in Nigeria, we have so many other countries who do not approve the drug, further suggesting that the drug should be avoided.
One of the major reasons why Apetamin seems to have not received NAFDAC approval, is the cyproheptadine hydrochloride it contains. Aside from being capable of aiding weight gain, cyproheptadine hydrochloride is also a substance that could cause liver failure, if misused. In other words, cyproheptadine hydrochloride opens up the opportunity for premature death.
Furthermore, rather than giving approval to this substance, we have seen some food and drug agencies, like FDA, issuing a serious warning against the weight gain drug.
Potential side effects of Apetamin
Despite being an illegal drug, we have a good number of people who have been taking this drug. Not only have they been taking it, but they have also claimed to have noticed some side effects of the drug. And some of these side effects include sleepiness, dizziness, tremors, irritability, blurred vision, nausea and diarrhoea, and liver toxicity and failure.
Also, it is worthwhile stating that, as the drug has no approval, it is possible that it contains substances that are not reported by the manufacturer. This gives even more reasons to avoid the product.
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