Trental SR Description

Trental SR or generic Pentoxifylline Sustained Release Tablet is a vasoactive agent that your doctor may prescribe to improve blood flow to your arms and legs as a result of peripheral artery disease that can cause intermittent claudication. This is the leg cramps or pain and tiredness that you may experience in your hands and feet while performing everyday tasks or when exercising. The generic alternative is not manufactured by the company that makes the brand product.

How Treatment with Trental SR Helps Decrease Your Symptoms of PAD

When taken orally as directed by your doctor, Trental SR works by decreasing the viscosity or thickness of your red blood cells. This improves blood flow so your extremities are able to move more freely without cramping up or becoming fatigued. If your blood flow is severely decreased, your fingers and/or toes may feel cold to the touch and appear bluish. Trental SR is not a cure for PAD (peripheral artery disease) but as a treatment to allow you some relief from cramping and pain and, hopefully, avoid surgical intervention.

Conditions Treated by Trental SR

During exercise or simply walking, you may feel pain or cramping in your legs, hips, or buttocks known as intermittent claudication. This is usually a symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD). And PAD could be telling you that the arteries supplying blood to your limbs are affected by a narrowing of your arteries, known as atherosclerosis.

Your arteries can become plugged up from fat, cholesterol and other materials known as atherosclerosis plaques. This interferes with a much needed supply of oxygenated blood, not just for your arms and legs, but for your heart too. Your muscles need oxygen as fuel in order to contract. You can work to prevent this from happening by not smoking, losing weight, keeping your cholesterol and high blood pressure under control, and watching your blood sugar levels for diabetes. Your doctor may also prescribe a statin drug to lower cholesterol levels and help prevent a plaque build-up.

Before You Take Trental SR

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breast-feeding as it is unknown if Trental SR will cause harm to your unborn or nursing baby. Discuss other medical conditions or allergies you have that could interact with Trental SR. List all current OTC and Rx medications you are taking, including herbal remedies and dietary or vitamin supplements. Combining other drugs with Trental SR could cause adverse side effects or change its efficacy.

Trental SR Precautions

If you are going to be receiving any medical or dental care or surgery, tell the attending doctor that you are taking Trental SR. Be patient as it can take 2 to 4 weeks before you notice any improvements in your condition and as many as 2 months to reach maximum relief.

Take Trental SR only as instructed by your doctor. Don’t dismiss the pain and cramping as exercising or working too hard; seek medical advice and return to your daily regimen in comfort. See your doctor right away if you experience faintness or convulsions while taking Trental SR.

Possible Side Effects of Trental SR

• Nausea or vomiting
• Belching
• Headache
• Stomach discomfort

Drugs Similar to Trental SR

• Pletal
• Plavix
• Persantine