What is the old brand name for cilostazol (Pletal)?

From the Research

Cilostazol was originally marketed under the brand name Pletal, which remains its primary brand name today, and there is no "old" brand name for cilostazol that preceded Pletal. When cilostazol was first approved by the FDA in 1999, it was introduced as Pletal by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. This medication is a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor that works by inhibiting platelet aggregation and causing vasodilation. It's primarily used to treat intermittent claudication in patients with peripheral artery disease, improving walking distance by increasing blood flow to the legs. Pletal continues to be the main brand name for cilostazol, though generic versions are now widely available. The typical dosage is 100 mg twice daily, taken at least 30 minutes before or 2 hours after meals since food affects its absorption.

According to the most recent and highest quality study available 1, cilostazol has been successfully established as a treatment for intermittent claudication, with a considerable distribution in angiologic patients. The study highlights the mechanism of action, use, and expectable therapeutic effect of cilostazol in the management of patients with peripheral arterial occlusion disease (PAOD).

Some key points to consider when prescribing cilostazol include:

• The recommended dosage is 2x100 mg, with detectable prolongation of subjective and objective walking distance 1
• The profile of side effects is broad but mostly short-term and dominated by headache and diarrhea 1
• Cilostazol has been shown to inhibit smooth muscle cell proliferation in vitro and favorably alter plasma lipids, decreasing triglyceride and increasing HDL-cholesterol levels 2
• The medication has been generally well-tolerated, with the most common adverse events being headache, diarrhea, abnormal stools, and dizziness 2

Overall, Pletal remains the primary brand name for cilostazol, with no "old" brand name preceding it, and its use as a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor for the treatment of intermittent claudication is well-established 3, 4, 1, 2, 5.