Cilostazol is used to reduce the symptoms of intermittent claudication (pain in the legs that worsens when walking and improves when resting that is caused by narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood to the legs). Cilostazol is in a class of medications called platelet-aggregation inhibitors (antiplatelet medications). It works by improving blood flow to the legs.
How should this medicine be used?
Cilostazol comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken twice a day, at least 30 minutes before or 2 hours after breakfast and dinner. Take cilostazol at around the same times every day. Follow the directions on the prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take cilostazol exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Cilostazol controls the symptoms of intermittent claudication but does not cure it. Although you may notice improvements in 2 to 4 weeks, it may take up to 12 weeks before you notice the full benefit (increased walking distance) of cilostazol. Continue taking cilostazol even if you feel well. Do not stop taking cilostazol without talking to your doctor.
What are the precautions to be followed?
Before taking cilostazol,
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to cilostazol, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in cilostazol. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: anticoagulants (''blood thinners'') such as warfarin (Coumadin); aspirin; antifungal medications such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), and ketoconazole (Nizoral); antiplatelet medications such as clopidogrel (Plavix), prasugrel (Effient), and ticlopidine (Ticlid); clarithromycin (Biaxin); diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac, others); erythromycin (E-mycin, Ery-Tab, others); fluoxetine (Prozac); fluvoxamine (Luvox); nefazadone; omeprazole (Prilosec); and sertraline (Zoloft). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
tell your doctor if you have bleeding ulcers (sores in the lining of the stomach or small intestine that are bleeding), bleeding in the brain, bleeding from any other part of your body, a low number of platelets in your blood, or any other condition that causes severe bleeding. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take cilostazol.
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart, kidney, or liver disease.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking cilostazol, call your doctor.
What are possible side effects of this medication ?
Cilostazol may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
headache
diarrhea
dizziness
heartburn
nausea
stomach pain
muscle pain
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
fast or irregular heartbeat
unusual bleeding or bruising
swelling of the arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
How to store the medication and dispose it of after its use later?
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).
Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program.
Drug Category/Class
Fibrinolytic Agents
Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
Bronchodilator Agents
Phosphodiesterase 3 Inhibitors
Vasodilator Agents
Neuroprotective Agents
Antithrombotic Agents
Blood and Blood Forming Organs
Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors Excl. Heparin
Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 Inhibitors
Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 Inducers
Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19 Inducers
CYP2D6 Inducers
CYP2D6 Ind
Prescribed
For the reduction of symptoms of intermittent claudication (pain in the legs that occurs with walking and disappears with rest).