PLETAL Helps Leg Pain Sufferers Walk Farther Without Pain (NAPS)—There is good news for people who suffer from debili- tating leg pain called intermittent claudication (IC). A recent study of patients with IC found that those taking PLETAL’ (cilostazol) Tablets were able to walk nearly twice as far as those patients taking Trental’ (pentoxifylline), the only other medication currently available for the condition, or a placebo (sugarpill). About four million Americans aged 55 and older suffer from intermittent claudication, which occurs when fatty deposits build up in leg arteries, restricting oxygen-rich blood flow to muscles. The result is painful cramps in the calf, buttock or thigh muscles that come on during exercise such as walking, but go away with rest. An estimated 75 percent of New York Presbyterian Hospital— New York Weill Cornell Center. “However, to patients with intermittent claudication, it can mean the difference between being home- bound and doing daily activities such as grocery shopping.” According to Dr. Borer, the study results give patients more patients with intermittent claudi- reason to discuss their leg pain with their doctors. natural consequence of aging. tolerated. The most commonly occurring side effects in the active cation go undiagnosed, in part because they think leg pain is a A study of nearly 700 seniors published in The American Jour- nal of Medicine, found that after 24 weeks, patients taking PLE- TAL increased their maximal walking distance by an average of PLETAL was generally well treatment groups were headache (28%), diarrhea (19%), and palpitation (17%) in the patients contrast, patients taking Trental receiving PLETAL, and pain (16%), pharyngitis (sore throat) (14%), and headache (11%) in patients receiving Trental. There was no significant difference in distance by an average of 70 effects between the groups. PLETAL should not be taken 117 yards over baseline—about the length of a football field. In showed no improvement over placebo—increasing their walking the incidence of serious side yards. Maximal walking distance is the distance patients could walk by patients with congestive heart continue. “To healthy people, the ability to TAL, go to www.PLETAL.com. To until they felt they could no longer failure of any severity. For full prescribing information for PLE- walk the length of a football field learn more about intermittent claudication or for a free brochure may not seem important,” says Jef- frey Borer, M.D., Chief, Division of Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, about the condition, log on to www.walkfarther.com or call toll- free 1-888-755-2266.
