Avoid Apetamin, a Dangerous Weight Gain Drug, FDA Warns

Weight-loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have overtaken social media, and now Apetamin, also known as a "slim-thick" drug, has made an appearance.

The FDA examined many instances of severe side effects linked to the illegally marketed medication Apetamin back in April. The medication is intended to help people gain weight and enhance their appearance.

Online interest in the illegal weight-gain substance increased once again after the agency posted a warning on X about it on November 20.

Apetamin is a product without FDA approval produced in India and brought into the country illegally. Despite the FDA's import restrictions, Apetamin can nevertheless enter the American market, frequently through internet marketing and some physical retailers.

The drug is marketed and advertised extensively on social media, primarily to individuals who want to bulk up and develop a specific body type. Cyproheptadine, a potent antihistamine that needs a doctor's prescription in the United States, is an ingredient in Apetamin.

Customers need to be made aware of the amount of cyproheptadine in Apetamin or the dangerous side effects that are linked to it.

Apetamin and potential side effects

Strong antihistamines like cyproheptadine, which is frequently used to treat allergy symptoms, can have side effects, including drowsiness, low blood pressure, cognitive impairment, and dizziness.

According to the CDC, an antihistamine overdose is hazardous and can have serious side effects within six hours, such as:

• Disorientation and confusion
• Hallucinations
• Convulsions
• Decreased breath and heart rates
• Coma
• Death

Apetamin usage has been associated with a reduction in mental alertness. Thus, users should exercise caution when participating in activities requiring mental focus and motor coordination.

Strong antihistamines, such as cyproheptadine, which is a component of Apetamin, may interact adversely with alcohol and other CNS depressants. The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) reported that young individuals taking Apetamin suffer from nervous system diseases, heart disorders, and liver damage were examined by the agency.

The FDA is worried that underreporting may be contributing to a larger actual number of consumers having adverse events in addition to the incidents that have been recorded.

One published case details a patient who took Apetamin every day for six weeks before developing autoimmune hepatitis. Hepatitis of this kind is a chronic condition that might last a lifetime. If left untreated, it can result in liver failure and is treated with corticosteroids and immune system suppressors.