Cilostazol Tablet Side Effects in Pakistan

Complete guide on the side effects of Cilostazol (Pletaal, Pletal). From common effects to serious warnings, including the DRAP pharmacovigilance reporting link for Pakistan.

Compiled by the PakVita Editorial Team · AI-assisted drafting with editorial review · Sourced from DRAP, WHO, BNF · Last updated: 2026-06-17

Side Effects

Quick Answer

Common side effects of cilostazol include headache, diarrhoea, palpitations, dizziness, and limb swelling. Headache can often be controlled with paracetamol. Serious concern: cardiac arrhythmia — see a doctor immediately. Cilostazol is strictly contraindicated in heart failure (increased mortality risk).

Side Effects at a Glance

Common

Headache (sar dard) — most commonly reported; occurs due to vasodilation; often resolves with paracetamol
Diarrhoea (dast)
Palpitations
Dizziness (chakkar)
Rhinitis (nasal congestion / runny nose)
Peripheral oedema
Tachycardia

Serious — See a Doctor

Cardiac arrhythmias / tachyarrhythmias — PDE3 cardiac effect — see a doctor immediately
Thrombocytopenia
Agranulocytosis
Hepatic failure

When to See a Doctor Immediately

Chest pain or irregular / very fast heartbeat (arrhythmia sign)
Unusual bleeding — nose, dark or black stools, skin marks
Severe headache that does not go away (migraine-type vasodilatory)
Yellow discolouration of eyes or skin
Worsening leg pain or pain at rest
Fever and frequent infections (agranulocytosis sign)

Cilostazol Tablet Side Effects (Nuksanat)

Cilostazol (Pletaal, Pletal) is an antiplatelet and vasodilator. Most patients tolerate it well at the correct dose, but some side effects occur.

Common Side Effects (Aam Nuksanat)

Headache (sar dard) — most common; occurs due to vasodilation; controlled with paracetamol; decreases within 2–4 weeks
Diarrhoea (dast) — monitor; mostly mild
Palpitations — sensation of heartbeat — inform your doctor if it persists
Dizziness (chakkar) — more on standing — rise slowly
Rhinitis — nasal congestion / runny nose
Peripheral oedema — swelling in legs or feet
Tachycardia — fast heartbeat

Uncommon Side Effects (Kam Hone Wale)

Nausea (matli)
Abdominal pain
Insomnia

Serious Side Effects (Sanjeedah Nuksanat)

Cardiac arrhythmias / tachyarrhythmias — PDE3 effect on the heart — see a doctor IMMEDIATELY for irregular or very fast heartbeat
Thrombocytopenia — see a doctor for unusual bruising, bleeding, or rash
Agranulocytosis (very rare) — see a doctor for frequent infections, fever, mouth sores
Hepatic failure (rare) — yellow discolouration of eyes/skin, dark urine — IMMEDIATE doctor or emergency

CRITICAL WARNING: Heart Failure

Cilostazol is STRICTLY CONTRAINDICATED in heart failure (HF) — at any degree. The PDE3 inhibitor class increases cardiac inotropy which raises mortality in HF. This has been proven in clinical trials (milrinone, vesnarinone).

When to See a Doctor (Kab Doctor Se Milna Zaroori Hai)

Chest pain or irregular / very fast heartbeat
Unusual bleeding — nose, dark stools, skin marks
Severe headache that cannot be controlled
Yellow discolouration of eyes or skin (jaundice)
Increasing leg pain or pain at rest
Frequent fever / infections (agranulocytosis)

Side Effects Summary Table

Type	Side Effect	Action
Common	Headache (sar dard)	Paracetamol — inform doctor if it does not go
Common	Diarrhoea	Monitor
Common	Palpitations	Inform doctor
Common	Tachycardia	Inform doctor
Serious	Cardiac arrhythmia	IMMEDIATE doctor
Serious	Unusual bleeding	See a doctor
Serious	Jaundice (peelaan)	IMMEDIATE doctor / emergency
CRITICAL	Use in heart failure	CONTRAINDICATED — absolutely forbidden

Reporting Side Effects

If you notice any unexpected side effect, report it on the DRAP pharmacovigilance portal: https://www.dra.gov.pk/pharmacovigilance

The information in this guide is for educational purposes only. If you notice any side effect, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cilostazol ke aam side effects kya hain?

The most common side effect is headache (due to vasodilation) — often controlled with paracetamol. Diarrhoea, palpitations, dizziness, and limb swelling can also occur. These symptoms are generally mild and decrease over time.

Cilostazol se sar dard kyun hota hai?

Cilostazol dilates blood vessels (vasodilation) — this causes headache due to the blood pressure effect in the head. This is an effect of the treatment and often reduces within 2–4 weeks. Paracetamol helps with this.

Kya cilostazol dil ko nuksaan pahunchata hai?

Cilostazol is STRICTLY CONTRAINDICATED in heart failure patients — there is a risk of increased mortality. In patients with normal heart function there is a risk of arrhythmia and tachycardia — see a doctor immediately if fast or irregular heartbeat occurs.

Cilostazol se bleeding kyun ho sakti hai?

Cilostazol is an antiplatelet — it thins the platelets — so when taken with anticoagulants (warfarin) or other antiplatelet drugs (aspirin, clopidogrel) the risk of bleeding increases.

Cilostazol lena kab band karna chahiye?

Stop immediately if: chest pain / irregular heartbeat occurs, unusual bleeding occurs, severe headache that cannot be controlled, yellow discolouration in eyes or skin (liver), or the doctor advises stopping.

Sources

DRAP Registered Products Database — Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan
WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, 23rd ed. (2023) — World Health Organization
British National Formulary (BNF) — BMJ Group & Pharmaceutical Press

Medical disclaimer

This page is for educational use only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always confirm diagnosis, dose, and interactions with a qualified doctor or pharmacist before starting or changing any medicine.