Pletal

Generic name: Cilostazol

Usage of Pletal

Pletal is a vasodilator that works by relaxing the muscles in your blood vessels to help them dilate (widen). This medicine dilates arteries that supply blood to your legs. This medicine also improves circulation by keeping platelets in the blood from sticking together and clotting.

Pletal is used to treat the symptoms of intermittent claudication. This condition causes reduced blood flow to the legs, leading to pain while walking. This medicine improves your ability to walk longer distances without pain.

Pletal may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Pletal side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Pletal may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

chest pain, pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

fever, chills, sore throat, mouth sores; or

easy bruising, unusual bleeding, purple or red spots under your skin.

Common side effects of Pletal may include:

diarrhea, abnormal bowel movements;

headache; or

fast or pounding heartbeats.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Pletal

You should not take Pletal if you have heart failure of any kind. This medicine can make this condition worse.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

bleeding problems;

liver or kidney disease;

a heart attack or stroke; or

if you smoke.

It is not known whether Pletal will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

You should not breastfeed while using Pletal.

How to use Pletal

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Pletal is usually taken twice a day on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before or 2 hours after breakfast or dinner.

Take the medicine at the same time each day.

It may take up to 12 weeks before your symptoms improve. Keep using the medication as directed and tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 3 months of treatment.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Warnings

Do not take Pletal if you have heart failure of any kind.

What other drugs will affect Pletal

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Many drugs can affect Pletal. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.