From the Guidelines
Daflon (Diosmin) is a recommended treatment for chronic venous insufficiency, as it improves venous tone, reduces inflammation, and enhances lymphatic drainage, with a recommended dose of 500 mg twice daily, taken with meals. The medication contains diosmin and hesperidin, which are naturally occurring flavonoids that work by:
- Strengthening vein walls and reducing their permeability
- Improving venous blood flow
- Reducing inflammation in the blood vessels
- Enhancing lymphatic drainage Patients typically experience symptom improvement within 2-4 weeks of starting treatment, but long-term use is often necessary for continued benefit, as noted in studies such as 1. Common symptoms that may improve include leg heaviness, pain, swelling, and cramps. While generally well-tolerated, some patients may experience mild gastrointestinal side effects. Daflon can be used alongside compression therapy for enhanced results in managing venous insufficiency, although the evidence for compression stockings is lacking, as mentioned in 1.
The pathophysiology of varicose veins, which are often associated with chronic venous insufficiency, involves a genetic predisposition, incompetent valves, weakened vascular walls, and increased intravenous pressure, as discussed in 1. Risk factors include family history of venous disease, female sex, older age, and chronically increased intra-abdominal pressure. Symptoms of varicose veins include a heavy, achy feeling and an itching or burning sensation, which worsen with prolonged standing. Potential complications include infection, leg ulcers, stasis changes, and thrombosis.
In terms of treatment options, conservative measures such as lifestyle modifications, elevation of the affected leg, weight loss, and medical therapy are often recommended, as noted in 1. Interventional treatments, including external laser thermal ablation, endovenous thermal ablation, endovenous sclerotherapy, and surgery, may also be considered. However, the use of Daflon (Diosmin) is a recommended treatment option for chronic venous insufficiency, due to its ability to improve venous tone, reduce inflammation, and enhance lymphatic drainage, as supported by the highest quality and most recent study 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
CLINICAL STUDIES Dietary Management of Chronic Venous Insufficiency In addition to more than 2 decades of clinical use in multiple countries, more than 40 clinical trials comprising >15,000 patients have been published. In studies using clinical endpoints of patient reported symptoms, edema and quality of life, diosmin consistently demonstrated 30-60% superiority to placebo or standard of care
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY Mechanism of Action VASCULERA acts by restoring toward normal the metabolic aspects of CVI including modulation of venous tone and capillary resistance, management of lymphatic drainage, and inflammation in the microcirculation.
The role of Daflon (Diosmin) in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is to:
- Modulate venous tone and capillary resistance
- Manage lymphatic drainage and decrease edema
- Reduce inflammation in the microcirculation
- Improve symptoms such as leg heaviness, aching, swelling, and nocturnal cramping
- Enhance quality of life for patients with CVI 2 Diosmin has been shown to be effective in reducing edema and improving clinical symptoms in patients with CVI, with a 30-60% superiority to placebo or standard of care 2
From the Research
Role of Daflon (Diosmin) in Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Daflon 500 mg, a micronized purified flavonoid fraction, has been shown to have a beneficial effect on chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) symptoms and edema. The key features of CVI include deterioration of venous wall tone, valve dysfunction, and varicose veins, leading to venous hypertension 3.
Mechanism of Action
The mechanism of action of Daflon 500 mg involves:
- Increasing venous tone and improving lymph drainage 4
- Protecting the microcirculation and decreasing capillary hyperpermeability 4
- Inhibiting inflammatory reactions and leukocyte activation 3, 5
- Normalizing the synthesis of prostaglandins and free radicals 3
Clinical Benefits
The clinical benefits of Daflon 500 mg in CVI include:
- Relief of symptoms such as pain, heaviness, and paresthesia 3, 6
- Reduction in edema and ankle swelling 3, 6, 4
- Improvement in venous trophic disorders, such as gravitational dermatitis and dermatofibrosclerosis 4
- Enhancement of microcirculatory nutritive flow and reduction in microvascular leakage 5
Treatment Recommendations
Daflon 500 mg may be prescribed as a first-line treatment for edema and symptoms of CVI at any stage of the disease 3. It can be used in conjunction with other treatments, such as compression therapy, sclerotherapy, and surgery, or as an alternative treatment when other treatments are not indicated or not feasible 3, 4.
Efficacy and Safety
The efficacy and safety of Daflon 500 mg have been demonstrated in several clinical trials, including double-blind, randomized, controlled studies 6, 7, 5. These studies have shown that Daflon 500 mg is well-tolerated and effective in improving CVI symptoms and edema, with few side effects reported 6, 7.