Common Registration Assessment, Part 1

Cilostazol 100 mg twice daily doses and interaction reductions for the GPhC assessment

Three original practice questions, with the working shown. Read the stated prescription or plan before calculating.

Published 14 November 2026. Independent revision material, not GPhC questions, not for patient care.

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The manufacturer's UK product information for cilostazol gives a dose of 100 mg twice daily, taken 30 minutes before breakfast and the evening meal.

When a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor or a strong CYP2C19 inhibitor is taken at the same time, the same information reduces the dose to 50 mg twice daily.

The product information asks the prescriber to reassess after 3 months with a view to stopping where the effect is inadequate, and contraindicates cilostazol in patients with a creatinine clearance of 25 ml/min or below.

Each question fixes the values needed for its arithmetic. State the dose, the times of day and the daily total beside every answer. All prescriptions and patients here are fictional; these are revision materials, not for patient care.

The method

  1. Give 100 mg twice daily, 30 minutes before breakfast and the evening meal.
  2. Halve to 50 mg twice daily when a strong CYP3A4 or CYP2C19 inhibitor is taken.
  3. Reassess the benefit after 3 months.
  4. Check creatinine clearance: cilostazol is contraindicated at 25 ml/min or below.

Three practice questions

Work each one on paper first, then open the answer. All patients and prescriptions are fictional.

Question 1

A fictional patient takes 100 mg twice daily for 12 weeks. How many 100 mg tablets is that in total?

Show the answer

Answer: 168 tablets

Working: 2 tablets a day x 7 days = 14 tablets a week. 14 x 12 weeks = 168 tablets.

Question 2

A fictional patient on cilostazol starts a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor. What dose does the product information give, and what is the daily mg total?

Show the answer

Answer: 50 mg twice daily; 100 mg a day

Working: The product information reduces the dose to 50 mg twice daily with a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor. 2 x 50 mg = 100 mg a day.

Question 3

A fictional patient has a creatinine clearance of 20 ml/min. Can cilostazol be used?

Show the answer

Answer: No; cilostazol is contraindicated at a creatinine clearance of 25 ml/min or below

Working: 20 ml/min is below 25 ml/min, and the product information contraindicates cilostazol in patients with a creatinine clearance of 25 ml/min or below.

eMC SmPC: Cilostazol 100 mg Tablets

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/2609/smpc

Where marks are lost

  • Taking cilostazol with breakfast or the evening meal instead of 30 minutes before.
  • Keeping 100 mg twice daily when a strong CYP3A4 or CYP2C19 inhibitor is added.
  • Continuing past 3 months without the reassessment the product information asks for.

Frequently asked questions

Are these official assessment questions?

No. They are original revision exercises, not official GPhC questions and not for patient care.

Does this calculation decide a real dose?

No. Follow the stated prescription in the exercise. Real dosing follows the prescriber and the product information for the named product.

How should I check the answer?

Multiply the twice daily dose by two for the daily total, halve it when a strong inhibitor is present, and confirm the creatinine clearance is above 25 ml/min.

Sources

The questions above are original and use fictional patients and prescriptions. PreRegExamPrep is not affiliated with or endorsed by the General Pharmaceutical Council.

Practise until the method is automatic

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More calculation topics

See also the formula sheet, the eight sample questions and the approved calculator page.