Apetamin Weight Gain Promises: Are They Too Good to Be True?

By - Muhtasim Munir

Apetamin is part of a new wave of what’s being called ‘lifestyle drugs.’These lifestyle drugs promise things like a better physique, weight loss, enhanced curves, among other things, making them incredibly popular on social media. 

But there’s a catch. Most of these drugs are either unlicensed or outright banned due to their dangerous side effects. 

Apetamin is hugely popular right now on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Influencers are promoting it as an easy, surgery-free way of getting the coveted slim-thick figure. But more and more people are coming forward with their own stories of how Apetamin has caused fatigue, jaundice, and even liver failure.

So is Apetamine a wonder drug for weight gain? Does Apetamin slow down metabolism? Or is it a scam that’s a part of a global fake medicine underworld? Read this article to learn more.

What is Apetamin?

Apetamin is a popular vitamin supplement that is marketed as an ‘appetite stimulant.’ Its claim to fame is that it increases your appetite, slows down metabolism, and helps the body gain weight. 

Influencers on social media claim taking Apetamin helps grow a bigger bust and hips, keeping a slim waist. This slim-thick look was popularized by celebrities like Kim Kardashian and has since become a beauty standard craved by women. 

Apetamin is manufactured by an Indian pharmaceutical company called TIL Healthcare. The company markets it as a vitamin supplement syrup containing vitamin B, amino acids, and an antihistamine called Cyproheptadine hydrochloride. This antihistamine is what gives Apetamin its weight-gaining effect. 

Aprtamine is widely available in markets like Africa, Asia, and South America. However, the FDA in the United States and the MHRA in the UK have not approved the drug because of its harmful effects. So it is an unlicensed drug that anyone cannot legally sell in these countries.

What’s in Apetamin?

On paper, Apetamin is an antihistamine medication. It works to negate the effects of histamine, a natural inflammatory agent of the body. It also contains some vitamins and amino acids. However, none of these components are known to help weight gain.

According to the manufacturer, Apetamin contains the following substances. It’s worth noting that the amount and formulation of each of these substances seem to vary.

Lysine is an essential amino acid. It is required in the body for the growth and development of tissue. But it is not remarkable in any way. All 9 essential amino acids have the same function as Lysine. So, again, the vitamins present in Apetamin are the same as your regular Vitamin B complex supplement. 

None of these components are known to have any appetite-boosting effects.

On the other hand, Cyproheptadine hydrochloride is a potent antihistamine medication. It is available in the US and UK as a prescription-only drug. It is used to treat inflammation and allergic conditions. Interestingly, increased appetite and hunger from using Cyproheptadine hydrochloride is listed as a side-effect.

Does Apetamin Slow Down Metabolism?

Apetamin owes its appetite-boosting effects to the action of its main component, Cyproheptadine hydrochloride. It mainly works as an antihistamine but has side effects like increased appetite, extreme fatigue, and drowsiness.

The effect of Cyproheptadine hydrochloride to increase appetite is confirmed. However, how exactly this substance does so is still a mystery. There are some theories as to how Cyproheptadine hydrochloride works to increase hunger. For example, it appears to increase the levels of IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor – 1). In addition, it is a hormone that is believed to increase the demand for food and hunger to increase weight in malnourished children.

Another theory is that it stimulates the hypothalamus. It is the part of the brain that controls many essential functions of the body like temperature, energy, hunger, thirst, etc. 

But does Apetamin reduce metabolism? The answer is no. Apetamin doesn’t have any impact on the biochemical process of metabolism or absorption. It simply acts to increase your appetite for food. This leads to you eating more calories than you need and ultimately gaining weight.

Is Apetamin Safe for Weight Gain?

Apetamin is an unregulated drug that is mainly being marketed through social media. Due to its legality problems and also the concern regarding its authenticity, it is impossible to guarantee the drug is safe. 

Apetamin is mainly marketed to countries like Africa, Central America, and South Asia as an antihistamine to stimulate appetite. It is targeted towards children of lower-income groups who are malnourished. But it is being promoted in western markets as a weight-gain drug and sold in those countries without a license.

So since this drug is not available through the proper channels, you can’t trust it to contain what it says on the label. Alongside that, the key ingredient Cyproheptadine hydrochloride can cause severe side effects.

So, Apetamin is not a safe or sustainable way to gain weight. But, I am sure you got your answer to does apetamin slow down metabolism. 

What Are Its Side Effects?

Apetamin is an unregulated drug. So the safety of the drug is not assured by organizations like the FDA in the USA. Furthermore, due to concerns regarding its many side effects, Apetamin is not sold by any reputed vendor in the USA. 

Still, people are managing to get their hands on Apetamin through backdoor channels. This is extremely dangerous as drugs obtained by these means are often fake and may even be deadly.

The side effects of Apetamin mainly stem from its main ingredient, Cyproheptadine hydrochloride. This drug is linked to various minor and even severe side effects.

Some of the side effects of Cyproheptadine hydrochloride are:

Prolonged use of Cyproheptadine hydrochloride in high doses may also result in liver toxicity and liver failure. It can also interact with alcohol, other medications, and even other antihistamines. 

In extreme cases, fatigue caused by Apetamin may be so severe that it may cause blackouts, as seen in the case of Youtuber AshaGand, who blacked out while driving and suffered a near-fatal car crash. 

You can check out her video about what happened at this link here. Also, in the BBC Three documentary ‘Dangerous Curves: Get Thicc, Get Sick?’, women shared their experiences taking Apetamin like constantly falling over, hands shaking uncontrollably, and even going into a coma. 

Doctors have warned that taking Apetamin is even more dangerous for young teen girls, one of the key demographics which the drug has targeted. Taking Apetamin, which can cause hormonal changes in the young female body, can cause permanent damage both physically and mentally.  

Is Apetamin Legal?

The sale of Apetamin is illegal in the US and UK as it is an unregistered and unlicensed drug. So you cannot buy it at any pharmacy or drug store in the US and UK.

Many websites such as Amazon have removed Apetamin from their listings. But the primary source of purchasing these kinds of lifestyle drugs is social media. And interestingly, you will also find many people worried about ‘does apetamin slow down metabolism’ in those digital platforms. 

Sites like Facebook and Instagram have accounts dedicated to Apetamin and act as an online outlet for its sale and distribution. Moreover, many popular influencers on Youtube and Instagram have promoted Apetamin. These sources of exposure drive up the demand for illegal drugs like Apetamin even further by providing free advertising. 

Spokespersons from both Youtube and Instagram have stated that buying and selling any sort of illegal drugs is prohibited on both platforms. Furthermore, both have assured that steps are being taken to remedy the situation.

How to Gain Weight without Apetamin?

Generally, people with a BMI of 18.5 or less are considered to be underweight. This is not to say that BMI is the best metric to determine the optimal weight of an individual. Numerous other factors come into play like age, body structure, muscle mass, etc. But the bottom line is, for these people gaining weight is a complicated and taxing process.

If you are trying to gain weight for medical reasons or purely for aesthetic purposes, you don’t need to rely on illegal drugs like Apetamin. There are many other safe and sustainable ways to gain weight without putting your health at risk. 

The basic principle of gaining weight is simple, eat more than you burn. The standard recommended number of calories needed to maintain weight for an adult is 2000 calories a day. To gain weight, you have to consume more calories than that at a steady rate for some time. You’ll want to take at least 500 calories surplus to your daily calorie intake. 

But it’s easier said than done. Many people face difficulty trying to gain weight just by eating more. Again, eating unhealthy food might end up causing more harm than good. But don’t worry, You’ll find everything you need to know about gaining weight in the list below.

Here are some of the ways you gain weight safely:

Increase your calorie intake

As explained earlier, the primary strategy to gaining weight is eating more. Try eating bigger portions during meals like lunch and dinner. Have some calorie-rich snacks in between meals. You may have to eat even though you’re full and aren’t feeling hungry anymore.

Eat Nutrient-Rich Food

Just because you have to eat more doesn’t mean you should eat just anything. Make sure that what you’re eating is good for you. Stuffing yourself with processed foods can cause Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal problems. 

Try snacking on natural protein-rich foods like grains, seeds, or nuts.

Drink Milk

Whole milk is an excellent food containing high amounts of protein, good fats, and calories. However, trying to drink full cream milk s it has more calories and is also better for weight gain. 

You can also try making delicious smoothies with yogurt, frozen fruits, nuts, caramel, etc. Taking a calorie-rich shake in between meals is a great way to get your daily calories up.

Don’t Drink Before Meals

Drinking too much water before your meals will reduce your appetite. It makes you feel fuller and makes you eat less. This habit is enough to stop your worry about does apetamin slow down metabolism.

Avoid drinking water right before or during meals. Instead, you can drink water 10-15 minutes after eating or have a calorie-rich drink between meals.

Try some Add On

Add some toppings to your snacks or some add ons to your meals to increase calories. For example, you can try adding cream to your coffee. You can also add cheese to your breakfast omelet or scrambled eggs.

Adding some tasty sides to your meals can help increase your daily calorie intake quickly.

Get Proper Sleep

Sleeping is an essential part of weight gain. During sleep, the human body works to develop muscle mass and grow tissue. This is done by the functions of various hormones and enzymes secreted only when a person is asleep.

So you must get quality sleep if you are trying to gain weight.

Exercise

Exercise may sound counterproductive when you’re trying to lose weight. But it is essential for targeted weight gain. In this case, strength training is the best option. Exercise makes sure the calories you consume are turned into muscle and not fat. 

Exercise also helps stimulate your appetite. So make sure to exercise regularly.

FAQ

Is Apetamin effective for weight gain?

Apetamin is advertised as an appetite stimulant. It does not directly make you gain weight. However, it increases your appetite, so you eat more, ultimately resulting in increased weight.

Apetamin also presents a lot of severe side effects. SO, it isn’t recommended as a weight gain solution.

Can I buy Apetamin over the counter?

Apetamin is not approved for sale by the FDA. So pharmacy cannot legally sell it over-the-counter or as a prescription-only drug.

How long does it take for Apetamin to work?

The effect of Apetamin begins within the first few days. Increased hunger is the most prominent indicator. Most people can see visible results after a week. However, it can take months to reach the desired weight goal.

Does Apetamin permanently slow down metabolism?

It is still unclear whether Apetamin directly affects the metabolism of the body. However, it’s thought that it may stimulate the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for hunger. 

But in any case, Apetamin will not cause any permanent change to the metabolism of your body.

Conclusion

So is Apetamin a miracle weight gain drug? No. Does Apetamin slow down metabolism? No again. Is it illegal? Yes. Apetamin is an unsafe and unregulated drug. Therefore, its use and sales need to be strictly regulated. 

If you are looking to gain weight, talk to your doctor or dietician. Then, go to the gym and speak to a qualified trainer.  Eat healthily and exercise. You can gain weight if you just remember to take in more calories than you utilize.