Taking Cilostazol for Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)
Cilostazol is a medicine that can relieve leg pain caused by claudication, a common symptom of PAD. Here's how the medicine works and what you should know before taking it.
Cilostazol is a medicine that can relieve claudication. Claudication is a common symptom of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). It causes pain in your legs when you walk or exercise. This happens because of reduced blood flow to your leg muscles.
How cilostazol works
Cilostazol works by improving blood flow in the smallest blood vessels. This lets you walk farther without pain. You can then be more active and do more of the things you like to do. Cilostazol can be used safely with many medicines. These include medicines used to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. But some medicines can affect how cilostazol works in your body. So your healthcare provider needs to know what other medicines you take. You may need to use cilostazol for 1 to 3 months before it starts to work. If you see no improvement after using it for 3 months, then your provider will likely take you off it. You should not use cilostazol if you have heart failure.
Taking cilostazol safely
Before taking cilostazol, tell your provider about any medicines you are taking. This includes:
All prescription medicines
Over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin or ibuprofen
Herbs, vitamins, and other supplements
Don't have grapefruit or grapefruit juice when taking cilostazol. These may cause a harmful interaction. Also tell your provider if you have a history of heart failure, liver disease, or any other health problems. Always take medicines as directed.
Tips for taking cilostazol
Have a routine. Take cilostazol when you get up each morning. Or take it when getting ready for bed at night.
Don’t skip doses. You must take this medicine daily for it to work.
Take on an empty stomach. Take it either 1 hour before a meal or 3 hours after, with a full glass of water.
Keep track of what you take. A pillbox with the days of the week marked can help, especially if you take several medicines. Or use a list or chart to keep track.
When to call your healthcare provider
Cilostazol can cause side effects. If you have problems, changing your dose may help. Call your provider or get medical help right away if you have any of the following:
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Loose bowel movements or diarrhea
Bloody or painful urine
Severe headache
Fever, chills, or flu symptoms
Upset stomach
Allergic reaction such as hives, rash, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat