GENERIC NAME: PENTOXIFYLLINE - ORAL (pen-tox-IF-ill-een)

BRAND NAME(S): Trental

Medication Uses | Other Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage

USES: Pentoxifylline improves blood flow through the blood vessels. It is used to treat problems with blood circulation in the arms and legs (e.g., intermittent claudication).

OTHER USES: This medication may also be used to prevent strokes, manage sickle cell disease, improve blood flow to the brain, improve effects of diabetes, or to treat nausea and headaches in high places (high-altitude sickness). This drug may also be used for other purposes as determined by your doctor.

HOW TO USE: This medication is best taken with meals to prevent stomach upset. Swallow the tablets whole. Do not crush or chew them since they are designed to release the medication slowly. Take this exactly as prescribed. Try to take this medication at the same time(s) each day so you remember to take it. Do not stop taking this without your doctor's approval. It may take 8 to 12 weeks to notice the effects of this medication.

SIDE EFFECTS: Loss of appetite, nausea, constipation, headache, dizziness, anxiety or blurred vision may occur at first as your body adjusts to the medication. If these effects persist or become bothersome, inform your doctor. Notify your doctor if you experience: chest pain, confusion, difficulty breathing, rash. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

PRECAUTIONS: Tell your doctor your complete medical history before you take any medicine. This medication should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Because this medication appears in breast milk, consult your doctor before breast-feeding. It is best to avoid smoking because nicotine constricts blood vessels.

From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com

cilostazol, Pletal - Source:MedicineNet Diabetes - Information on Diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus) including types, causes, symptoms of diabetes, medications, and treatment. Produced by the doctors of MedicineNet.com Source:MedicineNet Raynaud's Phenomenon - Raynaud's Phenomenon (RP) is a condition in which the fingers and/or the toes change color after exposure to temperature changes or emotional events. The skin discoloration occurs when the blood vessels spasm, causing a diminished blood supply to the local tissues. The digit(s) first turn white because of the diminished blood supply, then they turn blue because of prolonged lack of oxygen, and finally, they turn red when the blood vessels reopen, causing a local "flushing" phenomenon. RP primarily affects women, and its cause is unknown. Protecting the fingers and the toes from cold, trauma, and infection prevents complications from Raynaud's phenomenon. Source:MedicineNet Read 25 more pentoxifylline related articles ... So Much to Do, So Little Sleep Head Injuries All Too Common in Summer Play Health Tip: The Word on Wisdom Teeth Health Tip: Make Exercise a Daily Habit New Source of Heart Stem Cells Found Health Highlights: June 23, 2008 Poorer Patients Have Poorer Survival After Cancer Diagnosis One Gene May Be Key to Myeloma Crocodile Babies Cry Out for Hatching Immune Molecule Key to Preventing Organ Rejection