GENERIC NAME: CILOSTAZOL - ORAL (sye-LOE-sta-zol)
BRAND NAME(S): Pletal
Warning | Medication Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage
WARNING: Medications similar to cilostazol have shortened the lives of people with a certain type of heart disease (congestive heart failure). Therefore, do not use cilostazol if you have congestive heart failure.
USES: Cilostazol is used to improve the symptoms of a certain blood flow problem in the legs (intermittent claudication). Cilostazol can decrease the muscle pain/cramps that occur during exercise/walking. Claudication pain is caused by too little oxygen getting to the muscles. Cilostazol can increase blood flow and the amount of oxygen that gets to the muscles.Cilostazol is an "anti-platelet" and a vasodilator. It works by preventing certain blood cells (platelets) from sticking together and by widening blood vessels in the legs. This helps the blood to move more easily and increases blood flow.
HOW TO USE: Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from your pharmacist before you start taking cilostazol and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor, usually twice daily without food, at least 30 minutes before or 2 hours after breakfast and dinner. Dosage is based on your medical condition, response to treatment, and other medications you may be taking. Be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. Remember to use it at the same times each day.Your symptoms may improve in 2-4 weeks, but it may take up to 12 weeks to notice a benefit from this drug.Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.
SIDE EFFECTS: Headache, diarrhea, runny nose, and dizziness may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these serious side effects occur: fast/pounding/irregular heartbeat, swelling of the hands/feet.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: easy bruising/bleeding, black or bloody stools, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, signs of infection (such as fever, persistent sore throat).Get medical help right away if any of these rare but serious side effects occur: chest/jaw/left arm pain, fainting, vision changes, weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, confusion.A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.In the US -Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
PRECAUTIONS: Before taking cilostazol, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: bleeding disorders (such as bleeding ulcers, bleeding in the eye/brain), congestive heart failure, other heart disease (such as heart attack, chest pain, fast/irregular heartbeat), stroke, kidney disease, liver disease, blood disorders (such as hemophilia, low platelet counts).This drug may make you dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Limit alcoholic beverages.Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially swelling of the hands/feet (fluid retention).During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.Some products that may interact with this drug include: "blood thinners" (such as heparin, warfarin), other "anti-platelet" drugs (such as clopidogrel, dipyridamole, ticlopidine), tipranavir.Other medications can affect the removal of cilostazol from your body, which may affect how cilostazol works. Examples include diltiazem, omeprazole, azole antifungals (such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, miconazole), certain antidepressants (such as nefazodone, fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, sertraline), among others.Check all prescription and nonprescription medicine labels carefully since many contain pain relievers/fever reducers (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin) which can increase the risk of bleeding/anti-platelet effect when used with cilostazol. Low-dose aspirin (usually 81-325 milligrams per day) as prescribed by your doctor for specific medical reasons such as heart attack or stroke prevention should be continued. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe headache, very fast/irregular heartbeat, or severe dizziness.
SLIDESHOW
Spider & Varicose Veins: Causes, Before and After Treatment Images See SlideshowNOTES: Do not share this medication with others.Laboratory and/or medical tests may be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.Talk with your doctor about an exercise program to improve walking and decrease pain.
MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.
STORAGE: Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For information about enrolling in MedicAlert, call 1-888-633-4298 (US) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).
Information last revised November 2013. Copyright(c) 2013 First Databank, Inc.
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Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use.
CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.
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Intermittent claudication, or pain and cramping in the lower leg is caused by inadequate blood flow to the leg muscles. This lack of blood flow causes a decrease in oxygen delivered to the muscles of the legs. Claudication is generally felt when walking and decreases with rest. In severe cases, claudication may be felt at rest. Narrowing of arteries cause claudication. Treatment includes exercise, medication, and in some cases surgery.
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Gangrene
Gangrene may result when blood flow to a tissue is lost or not adequate to keep the tissue alive. There are two types of gangrene: wet and dry. All cases of wet gangrene are infected by bacteria. Most cases of dry gangrene are not infected. If wet gangrene goes untreated, the patient may die of sepsis within hours or days. Dry gangrene usually doesn't cause the patient to die. Symptoms of dry gangrene include numbness, discoloration, and mummification of the affected tissue. Wet gangrene symptoms include swelling, pain, pus, bad smell, and a black appearance of the affected tissue. Treatment depends upon the type of gangrene and how much tissue is compromised by the gangrene.pentoxifylline (Trental, Pentoxil)
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Peripheral Vascular Disease
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) refers to diseases of the blood vessels (arteries and veins) located outside the heart and brain. While there are many causes of peripheral vascular disease, doctors commonly use the term peripheral vascular disease to refer to peripheral artery disease (peripheral arterial disease, PAD), a condition that develops when the arteries that supply blood to the internal organs, arms, and legs become completely or partially blocked as a result of atherosclerosis. Peripheral artery disease symptoms include intermittent leg pain while walking, leg pain at rest, numbness in the legs or feet, and poor wound healing in the legs or feet. Treatment for peripheral artery disease include lifestyle measures, medication, angioplasty, and surgery.