Apitat

Uses

Choline is a nutrient found in a wide variety of vitamins including pre-natal formulations.

For nutritional supplementation, also for treating dietary shortage or imbalance

• Perenial and seasonal allergic rhinitis
• Vasomotor rhinitis
• Allergic conjunctivitis due to inhalant allergens and foods
• Mild, uncomplicated allergic skin manifestations of urticaria and angioedema
• Amelioration of allergic reactions to blood or plasma
• Cold urticaria
• Dermatographism

As therapy for anaphylactic reactions adjunctive to epinephrine and other standard measures after the acute manifestations have been controlled.

Apitat is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Nutritional supplementationAllergic Reactions caused by Transfusions, Anaphylaxis, Angioedema and urticaria, Cold urticaria, Conjunctivitis allergic caused by Food Allergy, Conjunctivitis allergic caused by inhalant allergens, Perennial Allergic Rhinitis (PAR), Pruritus, Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis, Serotonin Syndrome, Vasomotor Rhinitis, Dermatographism, Appetite stimulation

How Apitat works

Choline is a major part of the polar head group of phosphatidylcholine. Phosphatidylcholine's role in the maintenance of cell membrane integrity is vital to all of the basic biological processes: information flow, intracellular communication and bioenergetics. Inadequate choline intake would negatively affect all these processes. Choline is also a major part of another membrane phospholipid, sphingomyelin, also important for the maintenance of cell structure and function. It is noteworthy and not surprising that choline deficiency in cell culture causes apoptosis or programmed cell death. This appears to be due to abnormalities in cell membrane phosphatidylcholine content and an increase in ceramide, a precursor, as well as a metabolite, of sphingomyelin. Ceramide accumulation, which is caused by choline deficiency, appears to activate Caspase, a type of enzyme that mediates apoptosis. Betaine or trimethylglycine is derived from choline via an oxidation reaction. Betaine is one of the factors that maintains low levels of homocysteine by resynthesizing L-methionine from homocysteine. Elevated homocysteine levels are a significant risk factor for atherosclerosis, as well as other cardiovascular and neurological disorders. Acetylcholine is one of the major neurotransmitters and requires choline for its synthesis. Adequate acetylcholine levels in the brain are believed to be protective against certain types of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.

Cyproheptadine appears to exert its antihistamine and antiserotonin effects by competing with free histamine and serotonin for binding at their respective receptors. Antagonism of serotonin on the appetite center of the hypothalamus may account for cyproheptadine's ability to stimulate the appetite.

Dosage

Apitat dosage

Pediatric Patients:Age 2 To 6 Years:

• The total daily dosage for pediatric patients may be calculated on the basis of body weight or body area using approximately 0.25 mg/kg/day or 8 mg per square meter of body surface (8 mg/m2).
• The usual dose is 2 mg two or three times a day, adjusted as necessary to the size and response of the patient. The doe is not to exceed 12 mg a day.

Age 7 To 14 Years:

• The usual dose is 4 mg two or three times a day adjusted as necessary to the size and response of the patient. The dose is not to exceed 16 mg a day.

Adults: The total daily dose for adults should bot exceed 0.5 mg/kg/day. The therapeutic range is 4 to 20 mg a day, with the majority of patients requiring 12 to 16 mg a day. An occasional patient may require as much as 32 mg a day for adequate relief. It is suggested that dosage be initiated with 4 mg three times a day and adjusted according to the size and response of the patient.

Side Effects

Confusion, disturbed coordination, dizziness, excitation, euphoria, hallucinations, headache, hysteria, insomnia, irritability, nervousness, restlessness, sedation, seizure, sleepiness, tremor, vertigo, hypotension, palpitation, tachycardia, abdominal pain, anorexia, increased appetite, constipation, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, xerostomia, difficult urination, urinary retention, urinary frequency, blurred vision, diplopia, tinnitus, acute labyrinthitis, nasal congestion, pharyngitis, thickening bronchial secretion, paraesthesia, hepatitis, cholestasis, hepatic failure, jaundice, angioedema, photosensitivity, rash, urticaria, fatigue, chills, diaphoresis.

Toxicity

Oral rat LD₅₀: 3400 mg/kg

Overdosage with cyproheptadine is likely to result in significant sedation - although paradoxical stimulation has been noted in pediatric patients - and anticholinergic adverse effects such as dry mouth and flushing. Most patients appear to recover without incident, as a review of cyproheptadine overdose cases in Hong Kong found the majority of patients had no or mild symptoms following intentional overdose.

In the event of overdosage with cyproheptadine, prescribing information recommends the induction of vomiting (if it has not occurred spontaneously) using syrup of ipecac. Gastric lavage and activated charcoal may also be considered. Vasopressors may be used to treat hypotension and intravenous physostigmine salicylate may be considered for the treatment of significant CNS symptoms depending on the clinical picture.

Precaution

Patient with CV disease including HTN and ischaemic heart disease, increased intraocular pressure, asthma or other chronic breathing disorders, thyroid dysfunction. Pregnancy.

Interaction

May have additive effects with CNS depressants e.g. hypnotics, sedatives, tranquilizers, antianxiety agents. MAOIs prolong and intensify the anticholinergic effects of antihistamines.

Elimination Route

A single study examining the difference in absorption of orally administered versus sublingually administered cyproheptadine in five healthy males demonstrated a mean C_max of 30.0 mcg/L and 4.0 mcg/L, respectively, and a mean AUC of 209 mcg.h/L and 25 mcg.h/L, respectively. The T_max of orally and sublingually administered cyproheptadine was 4 hours and 9.6 hours, respectively.

Elimination Route

Approximately 2-20% of the radioactivity from an orally administered radio-labeled dose of cyproheptadine is excreted in the feces, of which approximately 34% is unchanged parent drug (less than 5.7% of the total dose). At least 40% of radioactivity is recovered in the urine.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

Pregnancy Category B. Either animal-reproduction studies have not demonstrated a foetal risk but there are no controlled studies in pregnant women or animal-reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect (other than a decrease in fertility) that was not confirmed in controlled studies in women in the 1st trimester (and there is no evidence of a risk in later trimesters).

Contraindication

Narrow-angle glaucoma, bladder neck obstruction, pyloroduodenal obstruction, symptomatic prostatic hyperplasia, stenosing peptic ulcer. Concurrent use with MAOIs. Debilitated elderly, newborn or premature infants. Lactation.

Acute Overdose

Symptoms: CNS depression to stimulation, atropine-like (e.g. dry mouth, fixed, dilated pupils, flushing) and GI symptoms.

Management: Induce vomiting with syrup of ipecac. If unable to vomit, perform gastric lavage followed by activated charcoal. Saline cathartics may be useful for quick dilution of bowel content by osmosis. Vasopressors may be used for hypotension.

Storage Condition

Store between 15-30°C.

Innovators Monograph

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