cilostazol

Generic Name: cilostazol
Other Brand Names: Pletal

What is cilostazol?

Cilostazol widens arteries that supply blood to the legs. Cilostazol also improves circulation by keeping platelets in the blood from sticking together and clotting.

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Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking cilostazol?

Do not take cilostazol if you have congestive heart failure. Cilostazol can make this condition worse.

Before using cilostazol, tell your doctor if you have:

  • heart disease; or

  • liver disease.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use cilostazol, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Cilostazol can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take cilostazol?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor.

Take each dose with a full glass of water.

Cilostazol is usually taken twice a day, at least 30 minutes before or 2 hours after breakfast or dinner. Take cilostazol at the same times each day. Follow your doctor’s instructions.

Your symptoms may not improve for at least 2 to 4 weeks after you start taking cilostazol. You may need to take this medicine for up to 12 weeks before you notice improvement. Tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve within that time.

Store cilostazol at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose of cilostazol?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Where can I get more information about cilostazol?
Your pharmacist has information about cilostazol written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of cilostazol?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • severe headache;

  • bloody urine, painful urination;

  • fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;

  • chest pain;

  • feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion; or

  • swelling of your ankles or feet.

Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:

  • fast or pounding heartbeats;

  • diarrhea, vomiting;

  • weakness, dizziness;

  • leg cramps;

  • numbness or tingling;

  • joint pain; or

  • cough, runny or stuffy nose.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What is the most important information I should know about cilostazol?

Do not take cilostazol if you have congestive heart failure. Cilostazol can make this condition worse.

Your symptoms may not improve for at least 2 to 4 weeks after you start taking cilostazol. You may need to take this medicine for up to 12 weeks before you notice improvement. Tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve within that time.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with cilostazol. The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

Take cilostazol on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before or 2 hours after food.

What should I avoid while taking cilostazol?

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with cilostazol. The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

What other drugs will affect cilostazol?

Before taking cilostazol, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

  • clopidogrel (Plavix);

  • omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid) or esomeprazole (Nexium);

  • erythromycin (E.E.S., Ery-Tab, E-Mycin, Erythrocin) or clarithromycin (Biaxin);

  • ketoconazole (Nizoral), fluconazole (Diflucan), or itraconazole (Sporanox);

  • diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac); or

  • fluvoxamine (Luvox), fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), or nefazodone (Serzone).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use cilostazol, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect cilostazol. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What happens if I have an overdose of cilostazol?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Symptoms of a cilostazol overdose may include a severe headache, diarrhea, feeling light-headed, fainting, and fast or uneven heartbeats.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008