Medications similar to cilostazol have shortened the lives of people with a certain type of heart disease (congestive heart failure). Therefore, do not use cilostazol if you have congestive heart failure.

Cilostazol is used to reduce leg pain when walking and limping caused by blood circulation disease (peripheral vascular disease). This medication helps to increase your walking distance by improving blood and oxygen flow in the legs. It works by widening blood vessels in the legs and by blocking certain blood cells called platelets to prevent them from forming harmful blood clots.

OTHER USES: This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional.

This medication may also be used after certain types of heart procedures to prevent blood vessels from narrowing and harmful blood clots.

Take this medication by mouth, usually twice daily, at least 30 minutes before or 2 hours after breakfast and dinner, or as directed by your doctor. Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy.

Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. Remember to use it at the same times each day.

Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while being treated with this medication unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Grapefruit juice can increase the amount of certain medications in your bloodstream. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Your symptoms may improve in 2-4 weeks, but it may take up to 12 weeks to notice a benefit from this drug.

Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

Headache, diarrhea, and dizziness may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these serious side effects occur: fast/pounding/irregular heartbeat, swelling of the hands/feet.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these highly unlikely but very serious side effects occur: yellowing of the eyes/skin, easy bruising/bleeding, black or bloody stools, signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat), cough with trouble breathing.

Seek immediate medical attention if any of these highly unlikely but very serious side effects occur: fainting, vision changes, weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, confusion, chest pain.

A serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US -

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Before taking cilostazol, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies.

This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: congestive heart failure, bleeding disorders (e.g., bleeding ulcers).

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: other heart disease (e.g., recent heart attack, unstable angina, arrhythmias), recent stroke, kidney disease, liver disease, certain blood disorders (thrombocytopenia or low platelet counts).

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.

This drug may make you dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Limit alcoholic beverages.

This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

It is not known if this medication passes into breast milk. Because of the potential risk to a nursing infant, breast-feeding while using this medication is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

See also the How to Use section.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: "blood thinners" (e.g., heparin, warfarin), other "anti-platelet" drugs (e.g., clopidogrel, dipyridamole, ticlopidine), drugs affecting the removal of cilostazol from your system (CYP 3A4 and 2C19 substrates, inhibitors and inducers such as azole antifungals, macrolide antibiotics, diltiazem, nefazodone, SSRI antidepressants, cimetidine, rifamycins, St John's wort, certain anti-seizure medications, esomeprazole, omeprazole), tipranavir.

Check all prescription and nonprescription medicine labels carefully since many contain pain relievers/fever reducers (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin) which can increase the risk of bleeding/anti-platelet effect when used with cilostazol. Low-dose aspirin (usually 81-325 milligrams per day) as prescribed by your doctor for specific medical reasons such as heart attack or stroke prevention should be continued. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe headache, very fast/ irregular heartbeat, or severe dizziness.

Do not share this medication with others.

Laboratory and/or medical tests may be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Store at room temperature at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Brief storage between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) is permitted. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For enrollment information call MedicAlert at 1-800-854-1166 (USA) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).

Information last revised July 2009 Copyright(c) 2009 First DataBank, Inc.