Apr
6th

Pletal (Cilostazol)

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Pletal (Cilostazol)

Cilostazol widens arteries that supply blood to the legs. Cilostazol also improves circulation by keeping platelets in the blood from sticking together and clotting.

Cilostazol is used to treat the symptoms of intermittent claudication. This condition causes reduced blood flow to the legs, leading to pain while walking. Cilostazol improves your ability to walk longer distances without pain.

Cilostazol may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about Pletal (cilostazol)?

Do not take cilostazol if you have congestive heart failure. Cilostazol can make this condition worse.

It may take up to 12 weeks of using cilostazol before your symptoms improve. For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 4 weeks of treatment.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with cilostazol. The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

Take cilostazol on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before or 2 hours after food.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Pletal (cilostazol)?

Do not take cilostazol if you have congestive heart failure. Cilostazol can make this condition worse.

Before using cilostazol, tell your doctor if you have:

  • heart disease; or
  • liver disease.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Cilostazol can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take Pletal (cilostazol)?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor.

Take each dose with a full glass of water. Cilostazol is usually taken twice a day, at least 30 minutes before or 2 hours after breakfast or dinner. Take cilostazol at the same times each day. Follow your doctor’s instructions.

It may take up to 12 weeks of using cilostazol before your symptoms improve. For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 4 weeks of treatment.

Store cilostazol at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include a severe headache, diarrhea, feeling light-headed, fainting, and fast or uneven heartbeats.

Pletal (cilostazol) side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • severe headache;
  • bloody urine, painful urination;
  • fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
  • chest pain;
  • feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion; or
  • swelling of your ankles or feet.

Less serious side effects may include:

  • fast or pounding heartbeats;
  • diarrhea, vomiting;
  • weakness, dizziness;
  • leg cramps;
  • numbness or tingling;
  • joint pain; or
  • cough, runny or stuffy nose.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect Pletal (cilostazol)?

Before taking cilostazol, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

  • clopidogrel (Plavix);
  • omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid) or esomeprazole (Nexium);
  • erythromycin (E.E.S., Ery-Tab, E-Mycin, Erythrocin) or clarithromycin (Biaxin);
  • ketoconazole (Nizoral), fluconazole (Diflucan), or itraconazole (Sporanox);
  • diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac); or
  • fluvoxamine (Luvox), fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), or nefazodone (Serzone).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with cilostazol. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Pletal

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Apr
6th

Feldene (Piroxicam)

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Feldene (Piroxicam)

Piroxicam is in a group of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Piroxicam works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body.

Piroxicam is used to treat pain or inflammation caused by arthritis.

Piroxicam may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

How should I take Feldene (Piroxicam)?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

If you switch brands of piroxicam, your dose needs may change. Follow your doctor’s instructions about how much medicine to take.

If you take piroxicam for a long period of time, your doctor may want to check you on a regular basis to make sure this medication is not causing harmful effects. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

It may take up to 2 weeks of using this medicine before your symptoms improve. For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.

Store piroxicam at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What are the possible side effects of Feldene (Piroxicam)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop taking piroxicam and seek medical attention or call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance
  • black, bloody, or tarry stools
  • coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
  • swelling or rapid weight gain
  • urinating less than usual or not at all
  • nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
  • fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash
  • bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness; or
  • fever, headache, neck stiffness, chills, increased sensitivity to light, purple spots on the skin, and/or seizure (convulsions)

Keep taking piroxicam and talk to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

  • upset stomach, mild heartburn or stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation
  • bloating, gas
  • dizziness, headache, nervousness
  • skin itching or rash
  • blurred vision; or
  • ringing in your ears

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs affect Feldene (Piroxicam)?

Before taking piroxicam, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:

  • a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin)
  • lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
  • methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall)
  • diuretics (water pills) such as furosemide (Lasix)
  • steroids (prednisone and others)
  • aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as etodolac (Lodine), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), ketorolac (Toradol), mefenamic acid (Ponstel), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), and others; or
  • an ACE inhibitor such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), fosinopril (Monopril), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), ramipril (Altace), and others

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use piroxicam or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect piroxicam. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What happens if I overdose on Feldene (Piroxicam)?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a piroxicam overdose may include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, drowsiness, black or bloody stools, coughing up blood, shallow breathing, fainting, or coma.

What happens if I miss a dose of Feldene (Piroxicam)?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What is the most important information I should know about Feldene (Piroxicam)?

This medicine can increase your risk of life-threatening heart or circulation problems, including heart attack or stroke. This risk will increase the longer you use piroxicam. Do not use this medicine just before or after having heart bypass surgery (also called coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG).

Seek emergency medical help if you have symptoms of heart or circulation problems, such as chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, or problems with vision or balance.

This medicine can also increase your risk of serious effects on the stomach or intestines, including bleeding or perforation (forming of a hole). These conditions can be fatal and gastrointestinal effects can occur without warning at any time while you are taking piroxicam. Older adults may have an even greater risk of these serious gastrointestinal side effects.

Call your doctor at once if you have symptoms of bleeding in your stomach or intestines. This includes black, bloody, or tarry stools, or coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Do not use any other over-the-counter cold, allergy, or pain medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Many medicines available over the counter contain aspirin or other medicines similar to piroxicam (such as ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or naproxen). If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of this type of medication. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or naproxen.

Do not drink alcohol while taking piroxicam. Alcohol can increase the risk of stomach bleeding caused by piroxicam.

Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Piroxicam can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Feldene (Piroxicam)?

Taking an NSAID can increase your risk of life-threatening heart or circulation problems, including heart attack or stroke. This risk will increase the longer you use an NSAID. Do not use this medicine just before or after having heart bypass surgery (also called coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG).

NSAIDs can also increase your risk of serious effects on the stomach or intestines, including bleeding or perforation (forming of a hole). These conditions can be fatal and gastrointestinal effects can occur without warning at any time while you are taking an NSAID. Older adults may have an even greater risk of these serious gastrointestinal side effects.

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to piroxicam, or if you have a history of allergic reaction to aspirin or other NSAIDs.

Before taking piroxicam, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

  • a history of heart attack, stroke, or blood clot
  • heart disease, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure
  • a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding
  • liver or kidney disease
  • asthma
  • polyps in your nose
  • a bleeding or blood clotting disorder; or
  • if you smoke

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use piroxicam, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Taking piroxicam during the last 3 months of pregnancy may result in birth defects. Do not take piroxicam during pregnancy unless your doctor has told you to.

Piroxicam can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give this medicine to a child without the advice of a doctor.

Feldene

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