What Tablets Help Poor Circulation in Legs? An Overview of Prescription and OTC Options

October 8, 2025 •

4 min read

An estimated 8.5 million Americans suffer from peripheral artery disease (PAD), a primary cause of restricted blood flow to the legs. When addressing what tablets help poor circulation in legs?, it's crucial to understand that effective treatment depends on the specific underlying condition and requires medical guidance to ensure safety and efficacy.

Quick Summary

Medications like cilostazol and pentoxifylline improve walking distance in PAD patients, while antiplatelet agents reduce heart attack and stroke risk. Anticoagulants treat blood clots, and certain supplements may support vascular health.

Key Points

Diagnosis First: Proper treatment for poor leg circulation requires a doctor's diagnosis to identify the underlying cause, such as PAD, DVT, or Raynaud's.
Cilostazol for PAD: For intermittent claudication (leg pain), cilostazol is a prescribed tablet that widens blood vessels to increase walking distance.
Antiplatelets Reduce Risk: Antiplatelet tablets like aspirin and clopidogrel are crucial for PAD patients to prevent blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes.
Anticoagulants Target Clots: If a blood clot is the cause, oral anticoagulants like apixaban or rivaroxaban are used to prevent existing clots from growing and new ones from forming.
Supplements Can Support, Not Cure: While vitamins like E and C can support vascular health, they are not a replacement for prescribed medication and should be discussed with a doctor.
Lifestyle is Key: Medications are most effective when combined with lifestyle changes, including regular exercise and quitting smoking.

Understanding the Causes of Poor Leg Circulation

Poor circulation in the legs is not a condition itself but rather a symptom of an underlying health issue. The most common cause is peripheral artery disease (PAD), which is the narrowing of the arteries that carry blood to the legs and feet, typically due to atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup. Other causes include deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot in a deep vein, and Raynaud's phenomenon, a condition causing spasms in small arteries in the extremities. Each cause requires a different approach, and a proper diagnosis from a healthcare provider is the first step toward effective treatment.

Prescription Tablets for Poor Circulation

When poor circulation is diagnosed, a doctor may prescribe specific tablets based on the cause. It is important to note that these medications are not for casual use and require medical supervision to manage side effects and ensure they are appropriate for your specific health profile.

Medications for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

For patients experiencing intermittent claudication (leg pain with exercise), the following tablets may be prescribed:

Cilostazol (Pletal): This is a vasodilator that relaxes and widens blood vessels, improving blood flow. It is used to reduce leg pain caused by intermittent claudication and helps patients walk farther with less discomfort. Common side effects can include headache, diarrhea, dizziness, and heart palpitations.
Pentoxifylline (Trental): A hemorheologic agent, pentoxifylline works by decreasing the viscosity of the blood and increasing the flexibility of red blood cells, which helps improve blood flow to the microcirculation. Some studies suggest it can increase walking distance, though its efficacy can be inconsistent.

For managing the underlying atherosclerosis and reducing cardiovascular risk, other tablets are key:

Antiplatelet Agents (Aspirin, Clopidogrel): These medications prevent blood clots from forming and are a cornerstone of PAD management, reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. While aspirin's direct impact on leg blood flow is debated, its role in overall cardiovascular risk reduction is significant.
Statins: These cholesterol-lowering drugs help slow the progression of plaque buildup in the arteries, reducing the risk of cardiovascular complications. Statins are often recommended for all PAD patients, regardless of their cholesterol levels.

Medications for Blood Clots (DVT)

If poor circulation is caused by a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), anticoagulants, or blood thinners, are prescribed. These medications do not break down existing clots but prevent new ones from forming and existing ones from growing.

Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs): Medications like rivaroxaban (Xarelto) and apixaban (Eliquis) are modern, convenient options for DVT treatment, as they do not require frequent blood monitoring.
Warfarin (Coumadin): This is an older oral anticoagulant that requires regular blood tests to monitor clotting time.

Medications for Other Conditions

For conditions like severe Raynaud's phenomenon, which involves spasms in the blood vessels of the extremities, doctors may prescribe vasodilators such as calcium channel blockers like nifedipine (Procardia) to relax the blood vessels and improve flow.

Table: Comparison of Common Circulation Tablets


Drug Type	Examples	Primary Indication	Mechanism	Key Side Effects
Vasodilator	Cilostazol	Intermittent Claudication (PAD)	Increases blood flow by widening blood vessels and inhibiting platelet aggregation.	Headache, diarrhea, palpitations, dizziness.
Hemorheologic Agent	Pentoxifylline	Intermittent Claudication (PAD)	Decreases blood viscosity and increases red blood cell flexibility.	Headache, dizziness, upset stomach.
Antiplatelet	Aspirin, Clopidogrel	Cardiovascular risk reduction (PAD)	Prevents blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots.	Increased risk of bleeding, stomach upset.
Statin	Atorvastatin, Simvastatin	Cholesterol reduction (PAD)	Lowers cholesterol and slows progression of atherosclerosis.	Muscle pain, nausea, liver issues (rare).
Oral Anticoagulant	Apixaban, Rivaroxaban	Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)	Slows down the clotting process of the blood.	Significant risk of bleeding.
Calcium Channel Blocker	Nifedipine, Amlodipine	Raynaud's Phenomenon	Relaxes and widens blood vessels.	Headache, flushing, edema.

Over-the-Counter Supplements for Vascular Support

While supplements are not a cure for underlying conditions causing poor circulation, some may support vascular health when combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting a new supplement, as they can interact with other medications.

Vitamin E: A potent antioxidant, vitamin E supports vascular health by protecting blood vessels from oxidative stress and preventing platelets from becoming overly sticky.
Vitamin C: This essential vitamin aids in the production of collagen, a crucial protein for maintaining the integrity and flexibility of blood vessel walls.
B Vitamins: Specifically B6, B9 (folate), and B12, these vitamins help regulate homocysteine levels, an amino acid linked to arterial damage.
L-arginine: An amino acid, L-arginine helps the body produce nitric oxide, a compound that helps relax and dilate blood vessels, improving blood flow.
Ginkgo Biloba: This herbal supplement is often associated with improving circulation in the extremities due to its antioxidant properties.

Lifestyle Adjustments to Enhance Circulation

Medication should be seen as one part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Lifestyle changes are vital for managing poor circulation and improving overall cardiovascular health.

Regular Exercise: Activities like walking, swimming, or cycling can help increase blood flow and encourage the growth of new, small blood vessels. Exercise is often prescribed for patients with intermittent claudication to help increase walking distance.
Quit Smoking: Smoking dramatically thickens the blood and constricts arteries, severely hindering circulation. Quitting is one of the most effective ways to slow the progression of PAD.
Balanced Diet: Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can support vascular health. Consuming foods high in flavonoids and omega-3 fatty acids may also be beneficial.

Conclusion: Consulting a Healthcare Professional

For individuals experiencing poor circulation in the legs, the right course of treatment is entirely dependent on the underlying cause. While several tablets are available—ranging from prescription vasodilators and antiplatelets for PAD to anticoagulants for DVT and calcium channel blockers for Raynaud's—they all require a doctor's diagnosis and oversight. Over-the-counter supplements can provide additional support, but they are not a substitute for prescribed medication. A holistic approach that combines medication with crucial lifestyle changes like exercise and smoking cessation is often the most effective path to improving circulation and overall health.

American Heart Association

Frequently Asked Questions

Cilostazol (Pletal) is the primary medication for intermittent claudication, the leg pain caused by poor circulation in peripheral artery disease (PAD). It works as a vasodilator to improve blood flow and increase walking distance.

For poor leg circulation due to PAD, low-dose aspirin is primarily used to reduce the overall risk of heart attack and stroke, not to directly improve blood flow in the legs. Its anti-clotting effects address systemic cardiovascular risk.

Common side effects of cilostazol include headache, diarrhea, dizziness, and palpitations. It is important to discuss these with a healthcare provider, who may adjust the dose or recommend an alternative.

Some supplements, like Ginkgo Biloba, are believed to support circulation, but they are not regulated to treat medical conditions. Always consult a healthcare provider before taking any supplement for poor circulation, as they are not a substitute for proven medical treatment.

Blood clots (DVT) are typically treated with anticoagulant tablets, also known as blood thinners, such as apixaban (Eliquis) or rivaroxaban (Xarelto). These prevent the clot from growing and new clots from forming.

For poor circulation caused by severe Raynaud's phenomenon, which makes hands and feet sensitive to cold, doctors may prescribe calcium channel blockers like nifedipine or amlodipine to relax blood vessels.

It is crucial to see a doctor for a correct diagnosis, as the underlying cause determines the right medication. Prescribed tablets have specific uses, risks, and side effects that must be professionally managed for safety and efficacy.