Polidocanol, Injection

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is given by injection to treat small varicose veins in the legs.
• This medicine may cause unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: sclerosant (treats varicose veins)

Generic and brand names: polidocanol, injection; Asclera; Varithena

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection to treat spider veins, which are small varicose veins in the legs.

This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• An allergic reaction to any medicine
• Blood clots or bleeding problems

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while receiving this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

This medicine will be injected by your healthcare provider. You will receive several injections during each treatment.

What should I watch out for?

Rarely, this medicine may cause blood clots in the legs or lungs. Wear compression stockings or support hose for 2 to 3 days and nights after you have the shot, and for 2 to 3 weeks during the daytime, or as instructed by your healthcare provider. Walk for 15 to 20 minutes right after the procedure and daily for the next few days. For 2 to 3 days after treatment, avoid heavy exercise, sunbathing, long plane flights, saunas, and hot baths. Follow all of your healthcare provider’s instructions closely.

This medicine may cause severe or life-threatening allergic reactions. You will be monitored closely while receiving this medicine and for 15 to 20 minutes after the treatment. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have a rash, itching, trouble breathing or swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

Your healthcare provider will check you regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments.

Contact your healthcare provider if your condition does not improve or if it gets worse.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you have received this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, or throat; trouble breathing); sudden weakness, numbness, or tingling, especially on one side of your body; sudden or severe headache; sudden trouble with vision, speech, balance, or walking.

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Redness, warmth, or swelling in your legs, ankles or feet; shortness of breath; coughing up blood; chest pain; severe dizziness or fainting; severe pain, bruising, sores, or peeling at the site of injection.

Other: Mild pain, skin discoloration, bruising, or itching at the site of injection, mild headache, mild dizziness.

What products might interact with this medicine?

No significant drug interactions have been reported.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.