Pletal (Cilostazol)

What is Pletal?

Pletal is a derivative of quinolinone that inhibits cellular phosphodiesterase.

What is Pletal used for?

Pletal is used, to relieve leg pain while walking, in patients suffering from peripheral vascular disease. The medicine also helps improve blood and oxygen flow in the legs so as to increase the walking distance.

How does Pletal work?

Pletal works by improving the blood flow in the legs and widening the blood vessels by blocking platelets and preventing them from forming blood clots.

How to use Pletal

Take Pletal as per the instructions of the doctor. Do not prolong the duration of the medication or change the dosage before confirming from the doctor.

Pletal is usually taken by mouth, with a full glass of water. Take the tablet at least 30 minutes before or 2 hours after having breakfast or dinner.

Do not crush, break or chew the tablet. Swallow it whole.

Pletal warnings and precautions

Do not take Pletal if you are allergic to any of its ingredients or have any other allergies related to the medicine.

Before using Pletal, inform your doctor about your medical history if it consists of congestive heart failure or bleeding disorder. You might be asked to not use this medicine.

If you have suffered from irregular angina, arrhythmias, (recent) stroke, kidney or liver diseases, or thrombocytopenia, tell your doctor so that your dose can be altered to suit your medical condition.

Do not take up attention demanding tasks after taking this medicine. Limit alcohol consumption. Do not take grapefruit or grapefruit juice while you are under this medication as it can interact with Pletal.

Pregnant women are advised to use Pletal only if there is an absolute emergency, after consultation with the doctor. Lactating women must consult their doctors before using this medicine to discuss about the effects of Pletal on the nursing infant.

What do I do if I have missed a Pletal dose?

If you have missed a Pletal dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your schedule. Do not double up the dose to catch up.

What do I do if I have taken a Pletal overdose?

If you have taken a Pletal overdose, consult a doctor.

Pletal interactions

Before taking Pletal, inform your doctor about all the prescribed and non prescribed drugs, herbal medicines, multivitamin and mineral supplements, diet aids, etc that you are taking or intend to continue taking.

If you are using drugs like clopidogrel, erythromycin, ketoconazole, Omeprazole, fluvoxamine, nefazodoe, sertaline or diltiazem, warfarin, heparin; cimetidine, rifamycin; St. John’s wort; ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin etc, remember to tell your doctor so that he can prescribe the right amount of dosage for you.

Pletal side effects

If you suffer from hives, severe itching, swelling on the face, throat, lips or tongue, breathing trouble, report to the doctor immediately as these are serious side effects of Pletal and need to be treated as soon as possible.

Some other side effects from Pletal that may be a cause of worry, if they persist, are severe headache, chest pain, fatigue, fever, chills, shortness of breath and swelling in the ankles or feet.

Some of the more common minor Pletal side effects include cough and runny or stuffy nose, numbness or tingling, weakness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, joint pain, leg cramps, irregular and fast heart beat. Report all these side effects to the doctor in detail so that the dosage can be rectified.