Cyproheptadine

/ˌsɪproʊˈhɛptədiːn/ noun

Definition

A medication that blocks histamine and serotonin, used to treat allergies, itching, and appetite loss, particularly in children.

Etymology

Compound name from cyano- (chemistry prefix) + hepta- (seven, referring to atomic structure) + -dine (chemical suffix), created in the 1960s during the synthesis of antihistamine drugs.

Kelly Says

Cyproheptadine is one of the few approved medications that actually increases appetite—the opposite of most weight-loss drugs—which makes it useful for children with eating disorders or those recovering from illnesses, though its mechanism in the brain isn't completely understood.

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