Cilostazol

Pronunciation: sye-LOE-sta-zol
Generic Name: Cilostazol
Brand Name: Pletal

Medicines similar to Cilostazol have shortened the lives of people with certain types of heart failure. Do not use Cilostazol if you have any type of heart failure.

Cilostazol is used for:

Reducing symptoms of intermittent claudication (pain, cramping, numbness, or weakness in the legs) that may occur with walking. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Cilostazol is a phosphodiesterase type 3 inhibitor. Cilostazol works by widening blood vessels to increase blood flow. It also decreases the ability of platelets to stick together and form clots.

Do NOT use Cilostazol if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Cilostazol


• you have heart failure, bleeding problems or a disorder that causes the inability to form blood clots, or active bleeding (eg, bleeding peptic ulcer, bleeding in the brain)

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Cilostazol:

Some medical conditions may interact with Cilostazol. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding


• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement


• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances


• if you have liver or kidney problems, or low blood platelet levels


• if you have recently had surgery or any type of bleeding

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Cilostazol. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Antiplatelet medicines (eg, clopidogrel) because the risk of bleeding may be increased


• Certain azole antifungals (eg, ketoconazole), diltiazem, esomeprazole, certain macrolide antibiotics (eg, erythromycin), nefazodone, omeprazole, protease inhibitors (eg, boceprevir, ritonavir), certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (eg, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline), or telithromycin because they may increase the risk of Cilostazol's side effects

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Cilostazol may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Cilostazol:

Use Cilostazol as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• An extra patient leaflet is available with Cilostazol. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.


• Take Cilostazol by mouth at least 30 minutes before or 2 hours after eating.


• Check with your doctor before you eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you take Cilostazol.


• The effects of Cilostazol are not immediate. Although you may experience the benefits of Cilostazol 2 to 4 weeks after beginning treatment, treatment for up to 12 weeks may be necessary before Cilostazol takes effect. Do not stop taking Cilostazol or change your dose without checking with your doctor.


• Cilostazol works best if it is taken at the same time(s) each day.


• If you miss a dose of Cilostazol, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once. If more than 1 dose is missed, contact your health care provider or pharmacist.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Cilostazol.

Important safety information:

• Cilostazol may cause dizziness. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Cilostazol with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.


• Cilostazol may rarely reduce the number of clot-forming cells (platelets) in your blood. Avoid activities that may cause bruising or injury. Tell your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding. Tell your doctor if you have dark, tarry, or bloody stools.


• Cilostazol may rarely lower the ability of your body to fight infection. Avoid contact with people who have colds or infections. Tell your doctor if you notice signs of infection like fever, sore throat, rash, or chills.


• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Cilostazol before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.


• Lab tests, including complete blood cell counts, may be performed while you take Cilostazol. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.


• Cilostazol should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.


• PREGNANCY AND BREAST-FEEDING: If you are pregnant or become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of taking Cilostazol while you are pregnant. It is not known if Cilostazol is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while you are taking Cilostazol.

Possible side effects of Cilostazol:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Abnormal stools; back pain; diarrhea; dizziness; gas; headache; increased cough; indigestion; light-headedness; mild sore throat; muscle aches; nausea; runny nose; stomach pain.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); black, tarry stools; chest, jaw, or left arm pain; confusion; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or persistent cough or sore throat; numbness of an arm or leg; one-sided weakness; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; severe or persistent dizziness or light-headedness; shortness of breath; slurred speech; sudden, severe headache or vomiting; sudden, unusual weight gain; swelling of the hands, ankles, or feet; unusual bruising or bleeding; vision changes (eg, blindness, double vision); vomiting material that looks like coffee grounds.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

See also: Cilostazol side effects (in more detail)

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include diarrhea; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; severe headache, dizziness, or light-headedness.

Proper storage of Cilostazol:

Store Cilostazol between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Store in a tightly closed container. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Cilostazol out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Cilostazol, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.


• Cilostazol is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.


• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.


• Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Cilostazol. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Issue Date: February 1, 2012

Database Edition 12.1.1.002

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

More Cilostazol resources

• Cilostazol Side Effects (in more detail)
• Cilostazol Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• Cilostazol Drug Interactions
• Cilostazol Support Group
• 2 Reviews for Cilostazol - Add your own review/rating

• Cilostazol Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Cilostazol Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Cilostazol Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)


• cilostazol Concise Consumer Information (Cerner Multum)


• cilostazol Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Pletal Prescribing Information (FDA)

Compare Cilostazol with other medications

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