Cilostazol
Cilostazol
Chemical compound
Cilostazol, sold under the brand name Pletal among others, is a medication used to help the symptoms of intermittent claudication in peripheral vascular disease.[2] If no improvement is seen after 3 months, stopping the medication is reasonable.[3] It may also be used to prevent stroke.[2] It is taken by mouth.[2]
Common side effects include headache, diarrhea, dizziness, and cough.[2] Serious side effects may include decreased survival in those with heart failure, low platelets, and low white blood cells.[2] Cilostazol is a phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor which works by inhibiting platelet aggregation and dilating arteries.[2]
Cilostazol was approved for medical use in the United States in 1999.[2] It is available as a generic medication.[3] In 2019, it was the 347th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 800 thousand prescriptions.[4]