Cilostazol
Cilostazol (sil OH sta zol) is a generic medication prescribed for a certain type of blood flow condition in adults. Cilostazol belongs to a group of drugs called phosphodiesterase inhibitors.
Cilostazol (sil OH sta zol) is a generic medication prescribed for a certain type of blood flow condition in adults. Cilostazol belongs to a group of drugs called phosphodiesterase inhibitors.
- Generic
- • Tablet
- • 100mg
- • 60 Tablets
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Intro
Introduction
Written by Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA
Medically reviewed by Victor Nguyen, PharmD, MBA
Updated on September 8, 2023
Cilostazol (sil OH sta zol) is a generic medication prescribed for a certain type of blood flow condition in adults. Cilostazol belongs to a group of drugs called phosphodiesterase inhibitors.
Boxed warning: Not for use in people with heart failure
Cilostazol oral tablet has a boxed warning that it is not for use in people with heart failure. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
For details, see the “Interactions and warnings for cilostazol” section.
FAQ
Common questions about cilostazol
Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about cilostazol.
What brand names are available for cilostazol?
Currently, there aren’t any brand names available for cilostazol. Pletal, the past brand-name version of cilostazol, has been discontinued. Cilostazol is the generic version of Pletal.
A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generic drugs are believed to be as effective and safe as brand-name drugs. And generic drugs usually cost less compared with brand-name drugs.
How does cilostazol work? And how long does it take to start working?
Cilostazol is prescribed to treat the symptoms of intermittent claudication (a certain type of blood flow condition). With this condition, you have muscle pain in your lower legs when you’re active. However, the pain stops when you rest. It’s usually caused by problems with blood flow from conditions such as peripheral artery disease (a buildup and narrowing of the blood vessels).
Cilostazol’s mechanism of action (how a drug works) is to block the action of a certain protein. This helps prevent blockages or narrowing in your arteries caused by platelets that makes your blood cells stick together and restrict blood flow.
If you’d like to know more about how cilostazol works, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Uses
Uses of cilostazol
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as cilostazol for certain conditions. Approved uses for cilostazol are described below.
Use for reducing symptoms of a certain type of muscle pain
Doctors may prescribe cilostazol oral tablet for reducing symptoms of a certain type of muscle pain called intermittent claudication. It’s used for this purpose in adults. It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.
With intermittent claudication, you experience muscle pain in your calves or lower legs when you’re active, which stops when you rest. This is usually a symptom of a condition such as peripheral artery disease (a buildup and narrowing of the blood vessels) that causes problems with blood flow.
Side effects
Side effects of cilostazol
Cilostazol may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of cilostazol and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.
To learn more about cilostazol’s side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for cilostazol listed in the “Resources” section.
Mild side effects
More common mild side effects reported with cilostazol are listed below.
This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about cilostazol’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for cilostazol listed in the “Resources” section.
With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.
Cilostazol oral tablet’s mild side effects include:
- headache
- diarrhea or abnormal stool
- dizziness
- sore throat
- mild allergic reaction*
* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for cilostazol” section.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects of cilostazol are listed below.
This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about cilostazol’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for cilostazol listed in the “Resources” section.
With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.
In general, cilostazol’s serious side effects include:
- bleeding in your eye
- blood cell problems, including a low level of platelets or white blood cells
- heart problems, such as heart failure, atrial fibrillation, heart palpitations (feeling like your heart is skipping beats), and low blood pressure
- severe allergic reaction*
* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for cilostazol” section.
Interactions and warnings
Interactions and warnings for cilostazol
Below, you’ll find information about cilostazol’s possible interactions and warnings.
Interactions of cilostazol
Certain things may affect how a drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.
Before you take cilostazol, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:
- prescription or over-the-counter drugs
- vitamins, herbs, or supplements
To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for cilostazol” section below.
Warnings for cilostazol
Some people should not take cilostazol, and others should take it cautiously.
Boxed warning: Not for use in people with heart failure
Cilostazol has a boxed warning that it is not for use in people with heart failure. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
You should not take cilostazol if you have heart failure. Drugs similar to cilostazol have also caused harm in people with heart failure. Taking cilostazol could cause your heart failure to worsen, which may lead to life threatening complications.
With heart failure, your heart cannot pump enough blood throughout your body. This condition was rarely reported in studies of cilostazol.
Symptoms may include:
- shortness of breath
- swelling due to fluid retention in your lower legs and feet
- fatigue (low energy)
- sudden weight gain
If you have concerns about this warning, tell your doctor. They can discuss whether cilostazol is safe for you to take based on your heart health.
To learn more about cilostazol and heart failure, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Other warnings
Cilostazol could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether cilostazol is a safe option for you.
Ask your doctor about specific warnings for cilostazol, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:
- current health, including any allergies to medications
- past health conditions or surgeries
Allergic reaction
Cilostazol can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.
If you’ve had an allergic reaction to cilostazol or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe cilostazol. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.
A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:
A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:
- swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
- swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems
If you have an allergic reaction to cilostazol, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.
Overdose of cilostazol
If you take cilostazol by mouth, you should not take more cilostazol than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.
If you think you’ve taken too much cilostazol, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding and cilostazol
Information about cilostazol and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.
Cilostazol and pregnancy
It’s not known whether cilostazol should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Cilostazol and breastfeeding
Cilostazol should not be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may recommend other ways to feed your child during treatment with cilostazol.
Ask your doctor
What to ask your doctor
Let your doctor know if you have questions about cilostazol or would like more details about it.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- How will we track whether cilostazol is working for me?
- Will my dosage of cilostazol differ if I’m taking other drugs with it?
- Are there any alternative medications that I can take for my condition?
Resources
Resources
- Cilostazol tablets, for oral use. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/1c56a77c-d414-42a4-981f-a46ece442848/spl-doc
- Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
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