Expert decries use of weight-gain products 

An expert has cautioned Nigerians, especially women, against the misuse and use of any product containing cyrotephadine.

This is in accordance with the rampant usage of weight gain products, including Apetamin, Apetabon syrup and tablets

Apetamin is an appetite stimulating, weight-gain supplement, designed to help people gain weight. It contains cyproheptadine, a medicine that alleviates allergy symptoms, with ‘increased appetite’ listed as a side effect, lysine and other vitamins.

The former Chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Dr. Abiodun Ajibade, said though “the product stimulates appetite, people take the drug not for the purpose originally meant for due to its accessibility at the pharmacy and unregistered pharmacy with or without any professional prescriptions and consultations.

“You will see the person gaining weight because the appetite is not approved. The person gaining weight and storing food in the body has piled up what the body does not need, which can lead to obesity, a problem people are fighting…”

He said the product was supposed to be under restriction but people use it because of drowsiness, lack of sleep, and depression …”

He urged Nigerians, especially women, to always seek doctor’s prescription and stop self- medication.