Effect of Ketotifen and Cyproheptadine on Appetite and Weight Changes in Mice

Ketotifen is a potent, safe and long acting antihistamine that is effective intreatment of asthma and its use is believed to causes weight gain and drowsiness.cyproheptadine, an antihistamine, has anticholinergic and antiserotonergic effects,and causes increases of the appetite and weight gain. in this study the effects ofdifferent doses of ketotifen and/or cyproheptadine on the appetite and weightchanges in mice is evaluated. sixty four male mice were divided in 8 groups andreceived the following drug regimens for 45 days. control group, normal saline (10ml/kg, s.c.), three groups of cyproheptadine (5, 10, 20 mg/kg, s.c.), three groups ofketotifen (8, 16, 32 mg/kg, s.c.), and one group cyproheptadine (5 mg/kg, s.c.)combined with ketotifen (8 mg/kg, s.c.). weight changes caused by above drugregimens were recorded every 2 days and average of food intake was recorded everyday for 45 days. the results showed that the high dose of ketotifen (32 mg/kg, s.c.)increased weight, significantly, but its low dose (8 mg/kg, s.c.) decreased weightsignificantly. cyproheptadine (5 mg/kg, s.c.) caused significant increase in weightgain and stimulated appetite, but its high dose of (20 mg/kg, s.c.), decreased theappetite and weight. co-administration of cyproheptadine and ketotifen decreasedthe appetite, significantly. the results showed that different doses of cyproheptadineand ketotifen have different effects on the appetite and weight gain in mice, andpossibly different mechanisms of action.