Cilostazol
Generic name: cilostazol · Brand names: Cilostazol
Phosphodiesterase 3 Inhibitor [epc]Information sourced from FDA Structured Product Labeling, updated January 14, 2026.
WARNING: CONTRAINDICATED IN HEART FAILURE PATIENTS Cilostazol tablets are contraindicated in patients with heart failure of any severity. Cilostazol and several of its metabolites are inhibitors of phosphodiesterase III. Several drugs with this pharmacologic effect have caused decreased survival compared to placebo in patients with class III-IV heart failure . WARNING: CONTRAINDICATED IN HEART FAILURE PATIENTS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Cilostazol tablets is contraindicated in patients with heart failure of any severity.
Cilostazol and several of its metabolites are inhibitors of phosphodiesterase III. Several drugs with the pharmacologic effect have caused decreased survival compared to placebo patients with class III-IV heart failure.
What is it used for?
Cilostazol tablets are indicated for the reduction of symptoms of intermittent claudication, as demonstrated by an increased walking distance. Cilostazol is a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor (PDE III inhibitor) indicated for the reduction of symptoms of intermittent claudication, as demonstrated by an increased walking distance
How to take it
The recommended dosage of cilostazol is 100 mg twice daily taken at least half an hour before or two hours after breakfast and dinner Reduce the dose to 50 mg twice daily when coadministered with CYP3A4 inhibitors such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, erythromycin, and diltiazem, or CYP2C19 inhibitors such as ticlopidine, fluconazole, and omeprazole
Recommended
dosage The recommended dosage of cilostazol is 100 mg twice daily taken at least half an hour before or two hours after breakfast and dinner. Patients may respond as early as 2 to 4 weeks after the initiation of therapy, but treatment for up to 12 weeks may be needed before a beneficial effect is experienced. If symptoms are unimproved after 3 months, discontinue cilostazol.
Dose Reduction with CYP3A4 and CYP2C19 Inhibitors
Reduce dose to 50 mg twice daily when coadministered with strong or moderate inhibitors of CYP3A4 (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, erythromycin, and diltiazem) or inhibitors of CYP2C19 (e.g., ticlopidine, fluconazole, and omeprazole) .
Warnings
Risks of tachycardia, palpitation, tachyarrhythmia or hypotension. Risks of exacerbations of angina pectoris or myocardial infarction in patients with a history of ischemic heart disease Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction has been reported in patients with sigmoid shaped interventricular septum Risks of thrombocytopenia or leukopenia progressing to agranulocytosis-monitor platelets and white blood cell counts Avoid use in patients with hemostatic disorders or active pathologic bleeding
Tachycardia Cilostazol
may induce tachycardia, palpitation, tachyarrhythmia or hypotension. The increase in heart rate associated with cilostazol is approximately 5 to 7 bpm. Patients with a history of ischemic heart disease may be at risk for exacerbations of angina pectoris or myocardial infarction.
Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction
Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction has been reported in patients with sigmoid shaped interventricular septum. Monitor patients for the development of a new systolic murmur or cardiac symptoms after starting cilostazol.
Hematologic Adverse Reactions Cases of
thrombocytopenia or leukopenia progressing to agranulocytosis when cilostazol was not immediately discontinued have been reported. Agranulocytosis is reversible on discontinuation of cilostazol. Monitor platelets and white blood cell counts periodically.
Hemostatic Disorders or Active Pathologic Bleeding
Cilostazol inhibits platelet aggregation in a reversible manner. Cilostazol has not been studied in patients with hemostatic disorders or active pathologic bleeding. Avoid use of cilostazol tablets in these patients.
Who should not take it
Cilostazol is contraindicated in patients with: Heart failure of any severity: Cilostazol and several of its metabolites are inhibitors of phosphodiesterase III. Several drugs with this pharmacologic effect have caused decreased survival compared to placebo in patients with class III-IV heart failure. Hypersensitivity to cilostazol or any components of cilostazol tablets (e.g., anaphylaxis, angioedema) Heart failure of any severity Hypersensitivity to cilostazol or any components of cilostazol tablets
Pregnancy
8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
Pregnancy Teratogenic Effects Pregnancy Category
C. Cilostazol has been shown to be teratogenic in rats at doses that are greater than 5-times the human MRHD on a body surface area basis. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. In a rat developmental toxicity study, oral administration of 1000 mg cilostazol/kg/day was associated with decreased fetal weights, and increased incidences of cardiovascular, renal, and skeletal anomalies (ventricular septal, aortic arch and subclavian artery abnormalities, renal pelvic dilation, 14 th rib, and retarded ossification).
At this dose, systemic exposure to unbound cilostazol in nonpregnant rats was about 5 times the exposure in humans given the MRHD. Increased incidences of ventricular septal defect and retarded ossification were also noted at 150 mg/kg/day (5 times the MRHD on a systemic exposure basis). In a rabbit developmental toxicity study, an increased incidence of retardation of ossification of the sternum was seen at doses as low as 150 mg/kg/day. In nonpregnant rabbits given 150 mg/kg/day, exposure to unbound cilostazol was considerably lower than that seen in humans given the MRHD, and exposure to 3,4-dehydro- cilostazol was barely detectable.
When cilostazol was administered to rats during late pregnancy and lactation, an increased incidence of stillborn and decreased birth weights of offspring was seen at doses of 150 mg/kg/day (5 times the MRHD on a systemic exposure basis).
Nursing Mothers Transfer of
cilostazol into milk has been reported in rats. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from cilostazol, discontinue nursing or discontinue cilostazol.
Pediatric Use Safety and
effectiveness of cilostazol in pediatric patients have not been established.
Geriatric Use Of the
total number of subjects (n = 2,274) in clinical studies of cilostazol, 56 percent were 65 years old and over, while 16 percent were 75 years old and over. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these subjects and younger subjects, and other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be excluded. Pharmacokinetic studies have not disclosed any age-related effects on the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of cilostazol and its metabolites.
Hepatic Impairment No
dose adjustment is required in patients with mild hepatic impairment. Patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment have not been studied in clinical trials and dosing recommendations cannot be provided .
Renal Impairment No
dose adjustment is required in patients with renal impairment. Patients on dialysis have not been studied, but, it is unlikely that cilostazol can be removed efficiently by dialysis because of its high protein binding (95 to 98%) .
Side effects
The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the labeling: Patients with Heart Failure Tachycardia Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction Hematologic Adverse Reactions Hemostatic Disorders or Active Pathologic Bleeding Most common adverse reactions greater than or equal to 2% and at least twice that for placebo in patients on 100 mg twice daily are headache, diarrhea, abnormal stools, and palpitation To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact AvKARE at 1-855-361-3993; email drugsafety@avkare.com or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Clinical Trials Experience Because
clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Adverse reactions were assessed in eight placebo-controlled clinical trials involving patients exposed to either 50 or 100 mg twice daily cilostazol tablets (n=1301) or placebo (n=973), with a median treatment duration of 127 days for patients on cilostazol tablets and 134 days for patients on placebo. The most frequent adverse reaction resulting in discontinuation of therapy in more than 3% of patients treated with cilostazol tablets was headache [50 mg twice daily (1.3%), 100 mg twice daily (3.5%) and placebo (0.3%)].
Other frequent causes of discontinuation included palpitation and diarrhea, both 1.1% for cilostazol tablets (all doses) versus 0.1% for placebo. The most common adverse reactions, occurring in at least 2% of patients treated with cilostazol tablets 50 or 100 mg twice daily, are shown in Table 1. Table 1: Most Common Adverse Reactions in Patients on cilostazol tablets 50 or 100 mg Twice Daily (Incidence at least 2% and Occurring More Frequently (≥ 2%) in the 100 mg Twice Daily Group than on Placebo) Adverse Reactions Placebo (N=973) Cilostazol tablets 50 mg twice daily (N=303) Cilostazol tablets 100 mg twice daily (N=998) Headache 14% 27% 34% Diarrhea 7% 12% 19% Abnormal stools 4% 12% 15% Palpitation 1% 5% 10% Dizziness 6% 9% 10% Pharyngitis 7% 7% 10% Infection 8% 14% 10% Peripheral edema 4% 9% 7% Rhinitis 5% 12% 7% Dyspepsia 4% 6% 6% Abdominal pain 3% 4% 5% Tachycardia 1% 4% 4% Less frequent clinical significant adverse reactions (less than 2%) that were experienced by patients treated with cilostazol 50 mg twice daily or 100 mg twice daily in the eight controlled clinical trials and that occurred at a frequency in the 100 mg twice daily group greater than in the placebo group are listed below.
Body as a whole: fever, generalized edema, malaise Cardiovascular: atrial fibrillation, heart failure, myocardial infarction, nodal arrhythmia, supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular extrasystoles, ventricular tachycardia Digestive: anorexia, melena Hematologic and Lymphatic: anemia Metabolic and Nutritional: increased creatinine, hyperuricemia Nervous: insomnia Respiratory: epistaxis Skin and Appendages: urticaria Special Senses: conjunctivitis, retinal hemorrhage, tinnitus Urogenital: urinary frequency
Postmarketing Experience The
following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of cilostazol tablets. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of an unknown size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Blood and lymphatic system disorders: Aplastic anemia, granulocytopenia, pancytopenia, bleeding tendency Cardiac disorders: Torsade de pointes and QTc prolongation in patients with cardiac disorders (e.g. complete atrioventricular block, heart failure; and bradyarrythmia), angina pectoris.
Gastrointestinal disorders: Gastrointestinal hemorrhage, vomiting, flatulence, nausea General disorders and administration site conditions: Pain, chest pain, hot flushes Hepatobiliary disorders: Hepatic dysfunction/abnormal liver function tests, jaundice Immune system disorders: Anaphylaxis, angioedema, and hypersensitivity Investigations: Blood glucose increased, blood uric acid increased, increase in BUN (blood urea increased), blood pressure increase Nervous system disorders: Intracranial hemorrhage, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebrovascular accident, extradural hematoma and subdural hematoma Renal and urinary disorders: Hematuria Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: Pulmonary hemorrhage, interstitial pneumonia Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Hemorrhage subcutaneous, pruritus, skin eruptions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, skin drug eruption (dermatitis medicamentosa), rash Vascular disorders: Subacute stent thrombosis, hypertension.
All information on this site is provided “as-is” for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. You should consult with a medical professional if you have any questions about your health. Source: FDA Structured Product Labeling.