Polidocanol for Varicose Veins

Polidocanol is a sclerosing agent, an irritant injected to treat varicose veins. Polidocanol causes fibrosis inside varicose veins, occluding the lumen of the vessel, and reducing the appearance of the varicosity.

Current research is involved in development of polidocanol as a topical therapy, where systemic safety might no longer be an issue. Polidocanol is reported to soon be commercially available in the US. Injectable polidocanol is sold outside the US under the brand name Aethoxysklerol and is available as a 1% solution. The chemical synonym is Laureth 9.

Compression sclerotherapy has been satisfactorily used for half a century for the treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities. Compression sclerotherapy using polidocanol solution was evaluated in 100 women patients. It is an effective and useful method for treating small varicose veins. Both polidocanol foam and polidocanol liquid forms are effective and safe sclerosing agents. It is reported that over 80% of the patients had their varicose veins completely disappear.

Compounded versions of polidocanol injection are available when the practitioner wants a more potent strength. Sterile solutions of polidocanol can be obtained from The Compounder pharmacy in 15ml vials as a 3% or 5% solution. Pricing is $49.00 for 3% and $59.00 for 5% per vial, plus shipping via UPS. This is an office-use preparation. Click here to view our order form.

Informational Links about Polidocanol

• Reversible Cardiac Arrest After Polidocanol Sclerotherapy of Peripheral Venous Malformation
  Massimiliano M. Marrocco-Trischitta, MD,* Paolo Guerrini, MD, Damiano Abeni, MD, MPH, and Francesco Stillo, MD
• Sclerotherapy Injection Information
• Sclerotherapy