Cilostazol

Pronounced sil-OS-tah-zol

Brand names: Pletal

Type: Antiplatelet and blood vessel widener · All Heart & Blood Pressure Medicines

What Cilostazol is used for

  • Leg pain when walking from poor circulation (intermittent claudication)
  • Preventing clots after certain artery stents, on specialist advice

◆ Kidney note

Dose is lowered when kidney function is severely reduced.

Common side effects

  • Headache
  • Diarrhea
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Dizziness

Important cautions

  • Must not be used in people with heart failure
  • Raises the risk of bleeding when combined with other blood thinners

How it comes

Tablets. This guide lists forms only — it never lists strengths or doses.

Related medicines — Heart & Blood Pressure Medicines

Please note: This page is a patient-education summary, not medical advice, and it deliberately contains no doses. Medicines affect everyone differently — always follow your own prescription and talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.