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What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins are a common condition affecting many men and women just like you.

What causes varicose veins

Certain factors could put you at increased risk for varicose veins, including family history, aging, being overweight or obese, pregnancy, or standing for long periods of time as part of your job.

Why varicose veins form

Line art icon of arrows in vein, signifying blood flow.

Tiny valves help the leg veins work against gravity to push blood back to the heart.

Line art icon of arrows in wavy lines signifying weak valves.

But if valves weaken, blood can leak backwards and pool, resulting in varicose veins.

 

Learn more about vein problems and how to treat them.

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Symptoms of varicose veins

Varicose veins often look bluish, twisted and enlarged, and bulge above the surface of the skin. But they are not always visible. For some people, they cause pain and discomfort, and cause symptoms, such as:

Line art icon of leg with ball and chain attached.

Heaviness

Icon showing a leg with wavy lines indicating aching leg.

Achiness

Line art icon of leg swelling.

Swelling

Throbbing

Line art icon of lines around leg signifying itchy leg..

Itching

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There's a new treatment option

When it comes to treating your varicose veins. there's a new way.

Learn about the treatment

Indications

Varithena (polidocanol injectable foam) 1% is a prescription medicine used to treat varicose veins caused by problems with the great saphenous vein (GSV) and other related veins in the leg's GSV system. Varithena improves symptoms related to or caused by varicose veins, and the appearance of varicose veins.

Important safety information

You should not be treated with Varithena if you are allergic to polidocanol or have clots in your blood vessels. Severe allergic reactions have been reported in people treated with liquid forms of polidocanol and some patients have died from these reactions. Varithena is a foam made from polidocanol. A healthcare professional will observe you for signs of allergic reactions for at least 10 minutes after you are treated with Varithena. Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you have:

  • Arterial disease (a disease of the blood vessels)
  • Reduced mobility
  • A history of blood clots in the veins or lungs
  • Had major surgery in the past 3 months
  • Recently had a long hospital stay
  • Become pregnant or were recently pregnant

The most common side effects seen with Varithena are leg pain or discomfort, injection site bruising or pain, and potentially serious blood clots in the leg veins. These are not all the possible side effects of Varithena. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. You can also report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. Varithena is administered by your doctor. Doctors using Varithena must be experienced in vein procedures and trained in using Varithena.

See full prescribing information for Varithena.