They call themselves “the skinny”, “the skinny” in English, because they find that they are too thin and that they need to gain weight to achieve their goal.
The diverted drug in question, Periactin, is available in free sale and costs less than 10 euros the box. Women who use it praise its merits and testify to its effectiveness, claiming that it makes you hungry all the time, even in their bed, and that it makes their bodies fat quickly. Nevertheless, the French Society of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (SFPT) has warned of the risks associated with this misuse of cyproheptadine, the active ingredient of Periactin. Indeed, this molecule is not a dietary supplement, but a drug intended for allergic people. Until 1994, it was prescribed to stimulate appetite in patients with decreased appetite accompanied by weight loss. But this indication was withdrawn due to a poorly assessed benefit/risk balance.
Dr Laurent Chouchana, in charge of the pharmacovigilance of cyproheptadine and member of the SFPT, explains that this molecule is very old and has been overtaken by more efficient molecules, which explains why it is no longer prescribed today. In addition, the molecules that act on weight are particularly monitored because of their potential misuseHow is it the case for the antidiabetic Ozempicwhich is sometimes used for slimming purposes (source 1).
Pharmacist representatives assure that Periactin is sold very rarely, but it is possible to get the drug online, where its purchase is often coupled with other weight gain aids, such as fenugreek seeds according to some sites. . The Medicines Agency (ANSM) has not seen an increase in sales, but it is currently making a analysis of the situation and will consider graduated actions to stem the phenomenon if necessary. However, the use of cyproheptadine as an orexigenic to induce weight gain for cosmetic purposes is potentially dangerous. The ANSM had already alerted health professionals to this trend a year earlier, because this non-compliant use can lead to serious side effects such as seizures, hallucinations and liver problems.
