Cilostazol: what it is for, how to take it and side effects

Cilostazol is a vasodilator medicine indicated for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease or prevention of stroke recurrence, as it works by relaxing blood vessels, improving circulation and preventing the formation of clots within the vessels.

This medicine can be found in pharmacies or drugstores in the form of tablets containing 50 mg or 100 mg of cilostazol, under the trade names Cebralat or Vasogard, or as a generic.

Cilostazol should be used under medical advice, for the duration of treatment recommended by the doctor and is contraindicated for people who have heart failure, stomach ulcers or cerebral hemorrhage.

What is it for

Cilostazol is indicated for:

Cilostazol works by relaxing the blood vessels in the legs, helping to relieve symptoms of peripheral vascular disease, such as pain or heaviness in the legs or cramps, improving the ability to walk long distances without pain.

Furthermore, this medicine prevents the formation of clots within blood vessels, which helps prevent stroke recurrence in people who have already had a stroke.

The use of cilostazol must be carried out under medical advice and may take up to 12 weeks to reach maximum effectiveness. After this period, if there is no improvement in symptoms, you should consult your doctor again to evaluate the treatment.

How to take and dosage

The cilostazol tablet should be taken orally, with a glass of water, on an empty stomach, preferably 30 minutes before or 2 hours after breakfast or dinner.

1. Cilostazol 100 mg

The normally recommended dosage of cilostazol 100 mg is 1 tablet, twice a day, that is, every 12 hours, taken in the morning and at night.

The duration of treatment with cilostazol 100 mg should be guided by the doctor, according to the condition being treated and general health status.

2. Cilostazol 50 mg

The dosage of cilostazol 50 mg normally recommended by the doctor is 1 tablet, twice a day, taken every 12 hours, morning and evening.

The 50 mg tablet can be recommended in cases where the person uses other medicines, such as omeprazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole, erythromycin or diltiazem, for example, or for people who have kidney failure.

Possible side effects

The most common side effects of cilostazol are headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain, heart palpitations, nausea, excess gas, dizziness, vertigo, rhinitis, pharyngitis or swelling in the feet or ankles.

Additionally, cilostazol can cause more serious side effects, such as pain or fluttering sensations in the chest, fast heartbeat, fever, chills, mouth sores, or dizziness as if you might faint. In these cases, you should seek the nearest emergency room.

In some people, cilostazol can cause serious allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis, and it is important to discontinue the medication and seek emergency help immediately in case of symptoms such as shortness of breath or swelling in the face. Know how to identify the symptoms of anaphylaxis.

Who shouldn’t use

Cilostazol should not be used by children, breastfeeding women or people who have heart failure, clotting disorders, bleeding stomach ulcers, cerebral hemorrhages or allergies to the components of the tablet.

During pregnancy, cilostazol should only be used if indicated by the doctor, after evaluating the benefits of the treatment for the woman and the possible risks for the baby. This is because the effects that cilostazol can have on the fetus are not yet known.