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What the Varithena treatment process is like

Get back on your feet with a minimally invasive treatment for your varicose veins.

A quick, nearly painless procedure

Varicose vein treatment involves injecting a microfoam that causes veins to close. Varithena is minimally invasive, and patients reporting pain at the injection or application site in clinical trials was 4.0%.1 There’s no need for incisions or stitches, and treatment is usually less than an hour. Most people only need a single treatment to see results.

Here's what to expect:

1

Before the treatment

  • The physician usually numbs the injection site, but no additional anesthesia is required.

2

During treatment

  • Your physician administers a small amount of Varithena.
  • The Varithena microfoam fills the desired section of the vein and treats the vein wall, causing the diseased vein to collapse.
  • Blood flow is redirected to healthier nearby veins. The microfoam disperses as it comes into contact with blood in healthy veins.
  • Your physician uses the same process on any other veins that need treatment.
  • The most common side effects are leg pain or discomfort, injection site bruising or pain, and potentially serious blood clots in the leg veins. 

3

After treatment

  • While allergic reactions are rare, a healthcare professional will watch you for signs of an allergic reaction for at least 10 minutes.
  • Your physician applies bandages and compression stockings to your leg. You’ll wear the stockings for two weeks.
  • Because Varithena is minimally invasive and well tolerated by most people, you’re likely to go back to most normal activities the same day.
  • You should avoid heavy exercise for one week.
  • For a month, you should walk at least 10 minutes a day and avoid long stretches of inactivity.
  • Additional treatment sessions may be needed.

Learn more about vein problems and how to treat them.

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Side effects of treatment

Varithena is a prescription medication, so it’s important to be aware of any possible side effects. The most common side effects are leg pain or discomfort, injection site bruising or pain, and potentially serious blood clots in the leg veins. These are not all of the possible side effects of Varithena. Talk to your doctor about your particular situation and your risk of side effects.

Ask for what you want

Take charge! Get involved in your treatment decision. Talk to your physician to learn about your options. Tell your physician about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • Have arterial disease (a disease of the blood vessels)
  • Have reduced mobility
  • Have a history of blood clots in the veins or lungs
  • Had major surgery in the past three months
  • Have recently had a long hospital stay
  • Are pregnant or have recently been pregnant
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References

  1. BSC data on file.

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.