What is cilastazole used for?

Cilastazole (brand name Pletal) is a medication of the benzimidazole class that is used to improve symptoms in people with various arterial occlusive diseases, especially intermittent claudication.

Cilastazole helps restore blood flow to leg muscles, which improves walking capabilities. Cilastazole works by preventing blood platelets from clumping or aggregating together to form blood clots, thus reducing blood viscosity (thickness).

Cilastazole is used to treat intermittent claudication, a condition in which there is pain in the muscles of the calf when walking, due to poor circulation. It belongs to a class of drugs known as phosphodiesterase inhibitors, which work by increasing the blood flow to the legs.