Cilostazol

The recommended dosage of cilostazol tablets, USP 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 tablets, USP.

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) [see Drug Interactions ( 7.1)].

Cilostazol may induce tachycardia, palpitation, tachyarrhythmia or hypotension. The increase in heart rate associated with cilostazol is approximately 5 bpm 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 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.

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.

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 in these patients.

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 mg or 100 mg twice daily cilostazol (n=1,301) or placebo (n=973), with a median treatment duration of 127 days for patients on cilostazol 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 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 (all doses) versus 0.1% for placebo.

The most common adverse reactions, occurring in at least 2% of patients treated with cilostazol 50 mg or 100 mg twice daily, are shown in Table 1.

Less frequent clinical significant adverse reactions (˂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

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of cilostazol. 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 QT_c 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.

Inhibitors of CYP3A4

Coadministration of strong (e.g., ketoconazole) and moderate (e.g., erythromycin, diltiazem and grapefruit juice) CYP3A4 inhibitors can increase exposure to cilostazol. Reduce cilostazol dose to 50 mg twice daily when coadministered with strong or moderate inhibitors of CYP3A4 [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.2) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Inhibitors of CYP2C19

Coadministration with CYP2C19 inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole) increases systemic exposure of cilostazol active metabolites. Reduce cilostazol dose to 50 mg twice daily when coadministered with strong or moderate inhibitors of CYP2C19 [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.2) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

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, 14th 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).

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.

Safety and effectiveness of cilostazol in pediatric patients have not been established.

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.

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 [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3)].

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%) [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3)].

Cilostazol and several of its metabolites inhibit phosphodiesterase III activity and suppress cAMP degradation with a resultant increase in cAMP in platelets and blood vessels, leading to inhibition of platelet aggregation and vasodilation, respectively.

Cilostazol reversibly inhibits platelet aggregation induced by a variety of stimuli, including thrombin, ADP, collagen, arachidonic acid, epinephrine, and shear stress.

Cardiovascular Effects

Cilostazol affects both vascular beds and cardiovascular function. It produces heterogeneous dilation of vascular beds, with greater dilation in femoral beds than in vertebral, carotid or superior mesenteric arteries. Renal arteries were not responsive to the effects of cilostazol.

In dogs or cynomolgus monkeys, cilostazol increased heart rate, myocardial contractile force, and coronary blood flow as well as ventricular automaticity, as would be expected for a PDE III inhibitor. Left ventricular contractility was increased at doses required to inhibit platelet aggregation. A-V conduction was accelerated. In humans, heart rate increased in a dose-proportional manner by a mean of 5.1 and 7.4 beats per minute in patients treated with 50 mg and 100 mg twice daily, respectively.

Cilostazol's effects on platelet aggregation were evaluated in both healthy subjects and in patients with stable symptoms of cerebral thrombosis, cerebral embolism, transient ischemic attack, or cerebral arteriosclerosis over a range of doses from 50 mg every day to 100 mg three times a day. Cilostazol significantly inhibited platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner. The effects were observed as early as 3 hours post-dose and lasted up to 12 hours following a single dose. Following chronic administration and withdrawal of cilostazol, the effects on platelet aggregation began to subside 48 hours after withdrawal and returned to baseline by 96 hours with no rebound effect. A cilostazol dosage of 100 mg twice daily consistently inhibited platelet aggregation induced with arachidonic acid, collagen and adenosine diphosphate (ADP). Bleeding time was not affected by cilostazol administration.

Effects on circulating plasma lipids have been examined in patients taking cilostazol. After 12 weeks, as compared to placebo, cilostazol 100 mg twice daily produced a reduction in triglycerides of 29.3 mg/dL (15%) and an increase in HDL-cholesterol of 4.0 mg/dL (≅ 10%).

Drug Interactions

Aspirin

Short-term (≤4 days) coadministration of aspirin with cilostazol increased the inhibition of ADP-induced ex vivo platelet aggregation by 22% to 37% when compared to either aspirin or cilostazol alone. Short-term (less than or equal to 4 days) coadministration of aspirin with cilostazol increased the inhibition of arachidonic acid-induced ex vivo platelet aggregation by 20% compared to cilostazol alone and by 48% compared to aspirin alone. However, short-term coadministration of aspirin with cilostazol had no clinically significant impact on PT, aPTT, or bleeding time compared to aspirin alone. Effects of long-term coadministration in the general population are unknown.

In eight randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trials, aspirin was coadministered with cilostazol to 201 patients. The most frequent doses and mean durations of aspirin therapy were 75 mg to 81 mg daily for 137 days (107 patients) and 325 mg daily for 54 days (85 patients). There was no apparent increase in frequency of hemorrhagic adverse effects in patients taking cilostazol and aspirin compared to patients taking placebo and equivalent doses of aspirin.

Warfarin

Cilostazol did not inhibit the pharmacologic effects (PT, aPTT, bleeding time, or platelet aggregation) of R- and S- warfarin after a single 25-mg dose of warfarin. The effect of concomitant multiple dosing of warfarin and cilostazol on the pharmacodynamics of both drugs is unknown.

Cilostazol is absorbed after oral administration. A high fat meal increases absorption, with an approximately 90% increase in C_max and a 25% increase in AUC. Absolute bioavailability is not known. Cilostazol is extensively metabolized by hepatic cytochrome P-450 enzymes, mainly 3A4, and, to a lesser extent, 2C19, with metabolites largely excreted in urine. Two metabolites are active, with one metabolite appearing to account for at least 50% of the pharmacologic (PDE III inhibition) activity after administration of cilostazol.

Pharmacokinetics are approximately dose proportional. Cilostazol and its active metabolites have apparent elimination half-lives of about 11 to 13 hours. Cilostazol and its active metabolites accumulate about 2-fold with chronic administration and reach steady state blood levels within a few days. The pharmacokinetics of cilostazol and its two major active metabolites were similar in healthy subjects and patients with intermittent claudication due to peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Figure 1 shows the mean plasma concentration-time profile at steady state after multiple dosing of cilostazol 100 mg twice daily.

Distribution

Cilostazol is 95% to 98% protein bound, predominantly to albumin. The binding for 3,4-dehydro-cilostazol is 97.4% and for 4´-trans-hydroxy-cilostazol is 66%. Mild hepatic impairment did not affect protein binding. The free fraction of cilostazol was 27% higher in subjects with renal impairment than in healthy volunteers. The displacement of cilostazol from plasma proteins by erythromycin, quinidine, warfarin, and omeprazole was not clinically significant.

Metabolism

Cilostazol is eliminated predominantly by metabolism and subsequent urinary excretion of metabolites. Based on in vitro studies, the primary isoenzymes involved in cilostazol’s metabolism are CYP3A4 and, to a lesser extent, CYP2C19. The enzyme responsible for metabolism of 3,4-dehydro-cilostazol, the most active of the metabolites, is unknown.

Following oral administration of 100 mg radiolabeled cilostazol, 56% of the total analytes in plasma was cilostazol, 15% was 3,4-dehydro-cilostazol (4 to 7 times as active as cilostazol), and 4% was 4´-trans-hydroxy-cilostazol (20% as active as cilostazol).

Elimination

The primary route of elimination was via the urine (74%), with the remainder excreted in feces (20%). No measurable amount of unchanged cilostazol was excreted in the urine, and less than 2% of the dose was excreted as 3,4-dehydro-cilostazol. About 30% of the dose was excreted in urine as 4´-trans-hydroxy-cilostazol. The remainder was excreted as other metabolites, none of which exceeded 5%. There was no evidence of induction of hepatic microenzymes.

Special Populations

Age and Gender

The total and unbound oral clearances, adjusted for body weight, of cilostazol and its metabolites were not significantly different with respect to age (50 to 80 years) or gender.

Smokers

Population pharmacokinetic analysis suggests that smoking decreased cilostazol exposure by about 20%.

Hepatic Impairment

The pharmacokinetics of cilostazol and its metabolites were similar in subjects with mild hepatic disease as compared to healthy subjects.

Patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment have not been studied.

Renal Impairment

The total pharmacologic activity of cilostazol and its metabolites was similar in subjects with mild to moderate renal impairment and in healthy subjects. Severe renal impairment increases metabolite levels and alters protein binding of the parent. The expected pharmacologic activity, however, based on plasma concentrations and relative PDE III inhibiting potency of parent drug and metabolites, appeared little changed. 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%).

Drug Interactions

Cilostazol does not appear to inhibit CYP3A4.

Warfarin

Cilostazol did not inhibit the metabolism of R- and S-warfarin after a single 25-mg dose of warfarin.

Clopidogrel

Multiple doses of clopidogrel do not significantly increase steady state plasma concentrations of cilostazol.

Strong Inhibitors of CYP3A4

A priming dose of ketoconazole 400 mg (a strong inhibitor of CYP3A4), was given one day prior to coadministration of single doses of ketoconazole 400 mg and cilostazol 100 mg. This regimen increased cilostazol C_max by 94% and AUC by 117%. Other strong inhibitors of CYP3A4, such as itraconazole, voriconazole, clarithromycin, ritonavir, saquinavir, and nefazodone would be expected to have a similar effect [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.2), Drug Interactions (7.1)].

Moderate Inhibitors of CYP3A4

Erythromycin and Other Macrolide Antibiotics

Erythromycin is a moderately strong inhibitor of CYP3A4. Coadministration of erythromycin 500 mg every 8h with a single dose of cilostazol 100 mg increased cilostazol C_max by 47% and AUC by 73%. Inhibition of cilostazol metabolism by erythromycin increased the AUC of 4´-trans-hydroxy-cilostazol by 141% [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.2)].

Diltiazem

Diltiazem 180 mg decreased the clearance of cilostazol by ~30%. Cilostazol C_max increased ~30% and AUC increased ~40% [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.2)].

Grapefruit Juice

Grapefruit juice increased the C_max of cilostazol by ~50%, but had no effect on AUC.

Inhibitors of CYP2C19

Omeprazole

Coadministration of omeprazole did not significantly affect the metabolism of cilostazol, but the systemic exposure to 3,4-dehydro-cilostazol was increased by 69%, probably the result of omeprazole’s potent inhibition of CYP2C19 [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.2)].

Quinidine

Concomitant administration of quinidine with a single dose of cilostazol 100 mg did not alter cilostazol pharmacokinetics.

Lovastatin

The concomitant administration of lovastatin with cilostazol decreases cilostazol C_{ss, max} and AUC_τ by 15%. There is also a decrease, although nonsignificant, in cilostazol metabolite concentrations. Coadministration of cilostazol with lovastatin increases lovastatin and ß-hydroxylovastatin AUC approximately 70% and is not expected to be clinically significant.

Dietary administration of cilostazol to male and female rats and mice for up to 104 weeks, at doses up to 500 mg/kg/day in rats and 1000 mg/kg/day in mice, revealed no evidence of carcinogenic potential. The maximum doses administered in both rat and mouse studies were, on a systemic exposure basis, less than the human exposure at the MRHD of the drug. Cilostazol tested negative in bacterial gene mutation, bacterial DNA repair, mammalian cell gene mutation, and mouse in vivo bone marrow chromosomal aberration assays. It was, however, associated with a significant increase in chromosomal aberrations in the in vitro Chinese Hamster Ovary Cell assay.

In female mice, cilostazol caused a reversible contraceptive effect at a dose (300 mg/kg) that was approximately 7.4-fold greater than the Maximum Recommended Human Dose (MRHD) on a body surface area basis. These findings have not been demonstrated in other animal species.

Cilostazol did not affect fertility or mating performance of male and female rats at doses as high as 1000 mg/kg/day. At this dose, systemic exposures (AUCs) to unbound cilostazol were less than 1.5 times in males, and about 5 times in females, the exposure in humans at the MRHD.

Repeated oral administration of cilostazol to dogs (30 or more mg/kg/day for 52 weeks, 150 or more mg/kg/day for 13 weeks, and 450 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks), produced cardiovascular lesions that included endocardial hemorrhage, hemosiderin deposition and fibrosis in the left ventricle, hemorrhage in the right atrial wall, hemorrhage and necrosis of the smooth muscle in the wall of the coronary artery, intimal thickening of the coronary artery, and coronary arteritis and periarteritis. At the lowest dose associated with cardiovascular lesions in the 52-week study, systemic exposure (AUC) to unbound cilostazol was less than that seen in humans at the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 100 mg twice daily. Similar lesions have been reported in dogs following the administration of other positive inotropic agents (including PDE III inhibitors) and/or vasodilating agents. No cardiovascular lesions were seen in rats following 5 or 13 weeks of administration of cilostazol at doses up to 1500 mg/kg/day. At this dose, systemic exposures (AUCs) to unbound cilostazol were only about 1.5 and 5 times (male and female rats, respectively) the exposure seen in humans at the MRHD. Cardiovascular lesions were also not seen in rats following 52 weeks of administration of cilostazol at doses up to 150 mg/kg/day. At this dose, systemic exposures (AUCs) to unbound cilostazol were about 0.5 and 5 times (male and female rats, respectively) the exposure in humans at the MRHD. In female rats, cilostazol AUCs were similar at 150 and 1500 mg/kg/day. Cardiovascular lesions were also not observed in monkeys after oral administration of cilostazol for 13 weeks at doses up to 1800 mg/kg/day. While this dose of cilostazol produced pharmacologic effects in monkeys, plasma cilostazol levels were less than those seen in humans given the MRHD, and those seen in dogs given doses associated with cardiovascular lesions.

Cilostazol tablets, USP for oral administration are available as:

50 mg: White to off-white, round, debossed with “E” over “123” on one side and plain on the other and supplied as:

NDC 0185-0123-60 bottles of 60

NDC 0185-0123-05 bottles of 500

100 mg: White to off-white, round, debossed with “E” over “223” on one side and plain on the other and supplied as:

NDC 0185-0223-60 bottles of 60

NDC 0185-0223-05 bottles of 500

Store cilostazol tablets, USP at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature].

Dispense contents in a tight, light-resistant container as defined in the USP with a child-resistant closure, as required.

KEEP TIGHTLY CLOSED

KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN.