Varicose vein ointment

In order to relieve discomfort in the legs and eliminate the main external signs of the disease, doctors recommend using an ointment for varicose veins. There are quite a lot of such ointments on the shelves of pharmacies, so in this article we will try to describe the most effective and popular of them.

Varicose veins, or varicose veins, are a disease that is becoming more common every year. Varicose veins affect both women and men, and if earlier the disease was mostly a problem for older people, now the disease has become “younger”: 25-30-year-old patients also suffer from it.

Indications for the use of ointments for varicose veins

Unfortunately, applying ointments for varicose veins alone will not completely get rid of the disease. However, a special composition of drugs will help significantly alleviate the patient's condition: reduce thrombus formation, reduce blood pressure in the venous vessels. Regular use of ointments will eliminate swelling in the legs, relieve pain and a feeling of cottoniness and heaviness in the limbs.

Prevention of varicose veins is also very important, especially during pregnancy or professional activities associated with prolonged standing. Ointments for varicose veins can serve as an excellent preventive measure for people working with heavy loads. Such ointments will help prevent the onset and progression of the disease.

If the disease is at an early stage, then the use of ointments will help eliminate venous congestion, prevent thrombophlebitis, which in the future will prevent adverse effects and complications of varicose veins.

Pharmacodynamics of ointments for varicose veins

Most ointments for varicose veins have a venoprotective effect: they strengthen the walls of capillaries and veins, reduce the gaps between endothelial cells (modifying the fibrous matrix in the intercellular spaces). Ointments inhibit aggregation and increase the variability of red blood cells, act to relieve the inflammation process.

If the venous disease is chronic, then in this case ointments can reduce the degree of tissue swelling, relieve pain, eliminate cramps in the limbs, prevent tissue trophic (nutrition) disorders and the development of ulcers on the skin surface.

Heparin-based drugs are designed to prevent the formation of blood clots in the lumens of blood vessels, as well as to dissolve already formed blood clots. Due to the anticoagulant (anticoagulant) effect, heparin ointments facilitate the movement of blood through the vessels, stimulate metabolic processes in tissues, accelerate the resorption of hemorrhages and blood clots, and eliminate swelling of the extremities.

Ointments with an anti-inflammatory effect, first of all, eliminate the inflammatory process, as a result of which all signs of inflammation disappear: redness along the vein, pain, swelling, heaviness in the legs.

Pharmacokinetics of ointments for varicose veins

After spreading ointments for varicose veins on the skin, the active components of the preparations are absorbed fairly quickly through the epidermis layer, and within half an hour they can be found in the structure of the dermis, and after 2-6 hours - in the subcutaneous fat layer.

After absorption, the active ingredients are biotransformed in small quantities in the liver (mainly with the help of the enzyme liver heparinase) and in the reticuloendothelial apparatus.

Names of ointments for varicose veins

Most modern ointments for varicose veins can be roughly divided into several categories based on their composition:

• ointments whose action is based on the presence of heparin. Heparin is an anticoagulant, or, more simply, a substance that prevents blood clotting. This is a natural substance present in a certain amount in our body and produced by tissue basophils. Heparin thins the blood, thereby facilitating its movement through the vessels and reducing pressure on the venous walls. The most famous ointments based on heparin: Heparin ointment, Lyoton, Lipoven, Trombofob, etc.;
• ointments for eliminating the inflammatory reaction in the veins, contain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory substances that help relieve inflammation, redness and relieve pain in the veins. Such ointments include: Diclofenac, Diclac-gel, Diclovit-Gel, Mundizal-Gel, Dolgit-cream, Bystrum-gel, etc.;
• venotonic ointments – contain substances that relax the smooth muscles of the venous vessels, reduce the permeability of the venous wall, and have a positive effect on the rheological properties of the blood. Among the most well-known venotonic ointments are Troxevasin, Troxerutin, Venoruton, Ginkor-gel, etc.;
• ointments that eliminate inflammation, based on glucocorticosteroids. These drugs are used quite rarely and only under the supervision of a doctor. Such ointments include, for example, Flucinar.

A vascular surgeon or phlebologist will be able to determine which ointment will be most effective in your particular case. It is quite difficult to choose the necessary ointment on your own, so patients are often “disappointed” in ointments and call them ineffective. If you find yourself in such a situation, do not hesitate and consult a doctor: he will conduct an examination, assess the extent of the problem and prescribe the necessary treatment.

Method of administration and dosage

Ointments for varicose veins are applied twice a day (in the morning after a shower and at night) to the painful areas of the limbs. Using gentle massage movements, the ointment is gently rubbed into the skin until completely absorbed. It is very important to use the ointment regularly over a long period of time.

Ointments are applied only to intact skin. It is necessary to protect the eye area and mucous membranes from ointments.

Heparin ointments are usually used for about 2 weeks.

If desired, ointments for varicose veins can be applied under compresses, elastic bandages or special anti-varicose decompression stockings.

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Using Varicose Vein Ointment During Pregnancy

Ointments for varicose veins during pregnancy should be prescribed only by a specialist. One of the reasons is the property of most ointments for varicose veins to thin the blood, which can lead to hemorrhages, bleeding, especially during childbirth. The second reason is the ability of such ointments to dilate blood vessels. The fact is that not all women need vasodilation: ointments, like other drugs, should be prescribed during pregnancy only if there are clear indications for this.

The third reason is that not all ointments have undergone the necessary research and may be safe for the future child and the pregnancy itself. Moreover, ointments may cause allergies, which can have an extremely negative effect on the process of bearing a child.

Of course, not all medications are taboo during pregnancy. However, the appropriateness of using a particular drug, even for external use, should be assessed by a doctor.

Contraindications to the use of ointment for varicose veins

The use of ointments for varicose veins has a number of contraindications that should be taken into account before starting treatment with a particular drug. The following contraindications can be attributed to any ointments for varicose veins:

• damage to the outer skin at the site of application of the ointment (wounds, scratches, burns, etc.);
• bleeding or a tendency to it, blood clotting disorders, hemorrhages;
• functional disorders or insufficient function of the liver and kidneys;
• period of gestation and childbirth;
• individual hypersensitivity, tendency to allergy to at least one of the components of the ointment.

It is not recommended to apply the ointment for varicose veins to ulcerated surfaces and mucous membranes, or to use it in the presence of abscesses on the skin.

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Side effects of varicose vein ointment

When using the ointment externally, allergic reactions such as itching, rashes, and redness of the skin may occur.

If you notice any other symptoms that you think are related to the use of varicose vein ointment, you should definitely tell your doctor about them.

Overdose

Since varicose vein ointments are used strictly externally, the risk of overdose is virtually zero. If the ointment was accidentally swallowed, you should immediately consult a doctor and take measures to detoxify the body.

Interactions of varicose vein ointment with other drugs

The thinning properties of heparin ointments are clearly enhanced when used in combination with anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents and non-steroidal medications.

Ergot preparations, antiallergic agents, tetracycline and nicotine reduce the effect of heparin.

The effect of most ointments for varicose veins can be enhanced by the combined use of vitamin C.

Storage conditions for ointment for varicose veins

Ointments for varicose veins do not require special storage conditions. The preparations are stored in dry places with room temperature, in undamaged factory packaging. Ointments cannot be frozen, nor allowed to heat up above 25°C.

The expiration date should be indicated on the packaging; most often it is from 3 to 5 years.

Ointment for varicose veins is available without a doctor's prescription.

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