Cilostazol
About Cilostazol
Cilostazol is an oral prescription medication used to improve the symptoms of a circulation problem in the legs called intermittent claudication. This condition causes painful cramping in your calf or thigh muscles when you walk or exercise. By helping blood flow more easily, this medicine allows you to walk longer distances before the pain starts.
To get the best results, you need to take this medicine consistently every day, typically twice daily. If you are also taking certain medicines that strongly slow the breakdown of Cilostazol (such as some antifungals or antibiotics), your doctor may reduce the dose to lower the risk of side effects. It is highly recommended to take it on an empty stomach, either 30 minutes before or 2 hours after your morning and evening meals. Making healthy adjustments, such as quitting smoking and eating a heart-healthy diet, can also significantly improve your walking distance.
Some people taking Cilostazol may experience mild side effects like headaches, a runny nose, or diarrhoea. However, if you experience serious symptoms such as a fast or irregular heartbeat, severe chest pain, or unusual bruising, you should contact your doctor immediately.
Talk to your doctor before starting this medicine if you have any history of heart issues. Do not take this medicine if you have heart failure of any severity, are allergic to Cilostazol or any of its ingredients, or have active bleeding issues such as a bleeding stomach ulcer. It is also generally not recommended for people with severe liver impairment, and those with severe kidney disease may require careful monitoring.
Cilostazol can interact with other blood thinners, certain stomach acid medicines, and even grapefruit juice, which can raise its levels in your body. It is important to discuss its safety with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or if you are an older adult.
Uses of Cilostazol
Medicinal Benefits
Cilostazol brings real-world relief to patients dealing with painful circulation problems. By addressing the root cause of poor blood flow, this medication provides several clinical benefits:
- Helps reduce the painful muscle cramps in your calves, thighs, or buttocks during physical activity.
- Allows you to walk longer distances comfortably, making daily tasks like grocery shopping or walking the dog much easier.
- Supports better overall circulation in your lower limbs, helping you regain physical independence and mobility.
Directions for Use
- Swallow the tablet whole with a full glass of water. Do not crush, chew, or break the tablet.
- Take this medicine on an empty stomach. This means you should take it at least 30 minutes before breakfast and dinner, or at least 2 hours after you have eaten.
- Set a daily routine by taking your doses at the same times every day to maintain a steady level of the medication in your body.
- Always follow your doctor's exact instructions regarding how many tablets to take and when to take them.
Storage
Side Effects of Cilostazol
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Headache
- Runny nose or congestion
- Diarrhoea or loose stools
- Dizziness or feeling lightheaded
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- Fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
- Chest pain or chest pressure
- Unusual bleeding or easy bruising (such as bleeding gums or frequent nosebleeds)
- Signs of an allergic reaction, including swelling of the face, lips, or throat, or a severe skin rash
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Avoid high-fat meals around your dose: Do not eat a high-fat meal just before or after taking this medicine. It can increase the amount of medicine your body absorbs and raise the risk of side effects.
- Monitor your heart rate: Check your pulse regularly if advised by your doctor. Tell your doctor if your resting heart rate is consistently higher than usual.
- Stand up slowly: Get up slowly from a sitting or lying position. This can help reduce dizziness and lower the risk of falling.
- Inform healthcare providers: Tell your dentist or surgeon that you are taking this medicine before any medical or dental procedure. It can affect how your blood clots.
- Check before taking pain relievers: Do not take aspirin or other over-the-counter pain medicines without asking your doctor first. Some of these medicines can increase your risk of bleeding.
Drug Interactions
- Blood thinners (e.g., warfarin, clopidogrel, aspirin): Combining these medicines with Cilostazol can significantly increase your risk of internal or external bleeding.
- Stomach acid reducers (e.g., omeprazole): These medicines can increase the amount of Cilostazol absorbed into your system, raising the risk of side effects like headaches and dizziness.
- Certain antibiotics and antifungals (e.g., erythromycin, ketoconazole): These medicines may block the breakdown of Cilostazol, leading to higher, unsafe levels of the drug in your body.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionIt is best to limit or avoid alcohol while taking this medicine.
Pregnancy
consult your doctorCilostazol should not be taken until prescribed. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you. Please consult your doctor.
Breast Feeding
consult your doctorCilostazol should not be taken until prescribed. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you. Please consult your doctor.
Driving
unsafeCilostazol may cause dizziness. So, it is not recommended to drive or operate heavy machinery when you take Cilostazol.
Liver
safe if prescribedCilostazol is safely given to the liver patients as there have been no published reports of hepatotoxicity. No dosage adjustment is necessary for patients with liver disease.
Kidney
cautionCilostazol to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Children
unsafeCilostazol is not recommended for children. The safety and effectiveness of Cilostazol have not been established in children.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice: Grapefruit can block the enzymes that break down Cilostazol in your body, leading to unsafe levels of the medication in your bloodstream.
- Quit smoking: Smoking constricts your blood vessels and accelerates plaque buildup, which directly conflicts with the benefits of this medicine.
- Engage in a structured walking program: Regularly walking up to the point of mild pain, resting, and walking again can help build your vascular stamina over time. Talk to your doctor to design a safe exercise plan.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet: Focus on low-fat, low-sodium foods to help manage cholesterol and blood pressure, supporting overall vascular health.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Intermittent claudication is the pain that occurs in the legs after walking at a specific speed and for a specific amount of time, depending on the seriousness of the condition. This pain is generally not constant. It occurs during walking and exercise and is relieved with rest. In this disease, the muscles of the leg do not get enough blood while you exercise. Sometimes, it causes complications like pain that occurs even when you are not exercising.
FAQs
Cilostazol consists of the anti-platelet drug (blood thinner) primarily used to treat intermittent claudication (pain, tingling, and numbness in the legs).
Cilostazol belongs to a class of medications called a blood thinner or an antiplatelet medication. Cilostazol plays a vital role in preventing the formation of harmful blood clots (plaque) in your veins. Cilostazol works by expands the veins and reduces the stickiness of the platelets. Therefore, enhancing the blood flow to the lower limbs.
Yes, Cilostazol increases the risk of bleeding. Always be careful while doing activities that may lead to bleeding or an injury. Immediately inform your doctor if you observe any abnormal damaging or bleeding.
Cilostazol decreases your risk of developing blood clots in the veins of your leg, heart, lungs, and brain. You may not feel any change after taking Cilostazol. However, keep taking this Cilostazol as recommended by your doctor as you will still be receiving its full advantages.
Since Cilostazol widens veins, it generally reduces blood pressure. Hence, if you are taking medicines that lower blood pressure, you should be cautious. Taking Cilostazol with other blood pressure-lowering medicines may reduce your blood pressure to very low amounts. Monitor your blood pressure frequently and talk to your doctor if a dose adjustment is needed. Cilostazol has also been reported to raise blood pressure, and the reason for this is unknown.
Yes, Cilostazol causes blood thinning. It works by preventing platelets (a type of blood cell) from sticking together and forming clots.
Please consult your doctor if Cilostazol needs to be stopped before undergoing surgery. The doctor might ask you to stop taking Cilostazol a few days before surgery to avoid the increased risk of bleeding during the procedure.
Cilostazol is usually taken as a long-term treatment if it improves your symptoms. Your doctor will typically reassess your progress after about 3 months. If you have not experienced a meaningful improvement in your walking distance or leg pain, your doctor may recommend stopping the medicine and exploring other treatment options. Continue taking it only as directed by your healthcare provider.
No, you should take Cilostazol on an empty stomach, either 30 minutes before breakfast and dinner, or 2 hours after. Taking it with food, especially high-fat meals, increases side effects. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have trouble scheduling your doses.
Cilostazol belongs to a class of medicines that can make heart failure worse and increase the risk of serious complications or death in people with heart failure. Do not take this medicine if you have heart failure. Talk to your doctor to find a safer alternative.
It is best to limit or avoid alcohol while taking this medicine, as alcohol can widen your blood vessels further, increasing your risk of dizziness, headaches, and low blood pressure. Talk to your doctor for personalised advice.
No, Cilostazol does not cure the disease, but it manages the symptoms by widening blood vessels and preventing clotting. It helps you walk further with less pain as long as you continue taking it. Talk to your doctor about comprehensive lifestyle plans.
Headaches are a very common side effect, especially when starting the medicine, and they often improve over time. However, if the headache is severe, persistent, or accompanied by vision changes, contact your doctor. Do not take aspirin or other pain relievers without consulting your pharmacist first.
It is generally not recommended to take this medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding unless your doctor decides it is absolutely necessary. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits.
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