Pletal (cilostazol) is a treatment for people with intermittent claudication-a painful symptom of peripheral arterial disease. Intermittent claudication is signaled by pain or numbness in the leg or buttock while walking. Patients who have, or who develop, congestive heart failure (shortness of breath, swelling of the legs, and other symptoms due to heart disease) must not take Pletal (cilostazol). In patients with congestive heart failure, long-term use (several months or more) of other drugs similar to Pletal (cilostazol) has increased the risk of death. It is important that you discuss with your doctor whether you have heart failure. Take Pletal (cilostazol) on an empty stomach-30 minutes before meals, or 2 hours after meals. Continue your therapy as prescribed. If you haven't noticed any improvement after 12 weeks, talk to your doctor.
A few of the PLETAL side effects caused by taking this medicine are headache, diarrhea, palpitation, dizziness, and increased heart rate. It may also cause more serious PLETAL side effects. You should talk to your doctor about PLETAL side effects before you start taking PLETAL. And, after you begin PLETAL, talk to your doctor if you believe you're experiencing PLETAL side effects.
Certain drugs (erythromycin, Cardizem (Diltiazem), Nexium (Esomeprazole) and Prilosec (Omeprazole), among others) and grapefruit juice can increase the amount of PLETAL in your blood. Before you begin taking PLETAL, make sure your doctor is aware of all medications you're taking. You may need to adjust your dose of PLETAL, or stop taking PLETAL altogether, while you're taking medications that interact with it and may cause PLETAL side effects. You should also check with your doctor before starting a new medication after you've begun taking PLETAL.
Intermittent claudication (IC) is a circulatory condition that results in pain, cramping, or numbness in one or both of your legs that starts when you walk and stops when you rest. The pain is caused by a lack of oxygen in the leg muscles (usually because of a narrowing or blockage of arteries that carry blood and oxygen to the legs). The term intermittent claudication literally means "limping that comes and goes." IC is a symptom of a circulatory condition known as peripheral arterial disease. Peripheral arterial disease, also called "hardening of the arteries" of the legs, is a serious medical condition affecting more than 10% of the adult population over 55.