Cilostazol, Oral sil-OHS-tah-zol

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: platelet aggregation inhibitor; phosphodiesterase inhibitor

Generic and brand names: cilostazol, oral; Pletal

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat:

• intermittent claudication (pain in the legs that happens when walking and goes away with rest)
• peripheral vascular disease (diseases of blood vessels outside the heart and brain)
• other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• a bleeding disorder
• heart failure or any kind of heart disease
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• ulcers

Before you take this medicine, talk with your healthcare provider about the risk that this medicine may affect your heart.

Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I take it?

Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. It is usually taken twice a day at least 30 minutes before or 2 hours after breakfast and dinner.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: severe headache, diarrhea, lightheadedness, fainting, fast or irregular heartbeat.

What should I watch out for?

You may feel better in 2 to 4 weeks after you start taking this medicine, but you may need to take it for 10 to 12 weeks before you feel its full effects. Take it for as long as your healthcare provider prescribes.

Keep all appointments with your healthcare provider to check how this medicine affects you. If you notice any unusual symptoms or side effects, contact your healthcare provider. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

Smoking may decrease the effectiveness of this medicine.

This medicine may make you dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert. Do not drink alcohol unless your healthcare provider approves. Alcohol may increase dizziness.

You may feel dizzy or faint when you get up quickly after sitting or lying down. Getting up slowly may help.

Adults over the age of 65 may be at greater risk for side effects from this medicine. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

Each time you have your prescription filled, read the information sheet that comes with this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away). If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; chest pain or tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Fast or irregular heartbeat; swelling in the hands, legs, or feet; shortness of breath; unusual bruising or bleeding; loose or black, tarry bowel movements; blood in the urine; unexplained fever, chills, or sore throat.

Other: Dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, runny nose, stomach pain; gas, fatigue, headache, rash, back pain, muscle aches.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (Ery-Tabs, E.E.S.), and telithromycin (Ketek)
• antidepressants such as amitriptyline, bupropion (Wellbutrin), doxepin, duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox CR), imipramine (Tofranil), nefazodone, nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), trazodone, and venlafaxine (Effexor)
• antifungal medicines such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), and miconazole (Monistat, Micatin)
• aspirin and other salicylates
• dasatinib (Sprycel)
• heart medicines such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac, Cartia XT), quinidine, and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin)
• heartburn medicines such as cimetidine (Tagamet) and omeprazole (Prilosec)
• medicines that affect blood clotting such as clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), dipyridamole (Persantine), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, and warfarin (Coumadin)
• natural remedies such as alfalfa, anise, bilberry, garlic, glucosamine, green tea, ginseng, ginkgo biloba, chamomile, fenugreek, horse chestnut, licorice, omega 3 fatty acids, red clover, SAMe, St. John’s Wort, turmeric, and willow
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen, ketorolac (Toradol), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve, Naprelan), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), and sulindac (Clinoril)
• pentoxifylline (Trental)

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are taking this medicine because it may increase the effect of the medicine.

Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.