Brand name · Polidocanol
Varithena: adverse event reports filed with FDA
940 reports list it as a suspect or interacting product, 2015–2026.
- 940
- reports as suspect product
- 0% of all reports · about 85 a year
- 98
- reports, 12 months to June 2026
- 152 in the 12 months before
- 23.4%
- marked serious by the reporter
- 57.4% across all reports
- 0.1%
- record death among outcomes, as reported
- 1 reports · not verified by FDA
Between July 2015 and June 2026, 940 adverse event reports received by FDA list the brand name Varithena (polidocanol) as a suspect or interacting product. Reports that mention it only as a concomitant medication (2) are left out of every figure here.
In the 12 months to June 2026, 98 reports listed it, down 36% from 152 in the 12 months before. FDA releases FAERS data quarterly, so the newest months are incomplete and grow in later releases. Over its reporting history that is about 85 reports a year and 0% of the 20,646,523 reports in the database. How many people take it is not in the data, so a count is not a rate of occurrence.
The reactions recorded most often are deep vein thrombosis (32.7%), no adverse event (9.9%) and product quality issue (6.8%). A report can list several reactions, so shares add to more than 100%; 119 different terms appear across these reports. Deep vein thrombosis is recorded in 32.7% of these reports, against 0.3% of all reports in the database.
23.4% of the reports are marked serious by the reporter; 0.1% record death among the outcomes and 2.6% record hospitalisation, as reported. 52.8% of the reports came from consumers, and the largest patient age group is 45 to 64 (12.2%). FDA states that "a causal relationship cannot be established between product and reactions listed in a report" and that for any given report "there is no certainty that a suspected drug caused the event."
Reports by month, five years
Reports by the month FDA received them. FDA releases FAERS data quarterly, so the newest months are incomplete and grow in later releases.
By year received
2026 covers reports received through June 2026 only.
Reactions recorded in the reports
share of Varithena reports recording the termall reports in the database
- Deep vein thrombosisa blood clot in a deep vein32.7%307
- No adverse eventno adverse event was reported9.9%93
- Product quality issuea problem with the product itself6.8%64
- Wrong technique in product usage processthe product was used in the wrong way6.6%62
- Painpain, site not specified6.1%57
- Pain in extremitypain in an arm or leg4.8%45
- Off label useused for a purpose or in a way not on the label4.4%41
- Thrombosis3.7%35
- Skin discolourationa change in skin colour3.3%31
- Treatment noncompliancethe treatment was not taken as directed3.1%29
- Expired product administeredthe product was used past its expiry date2.9%27
- Peripheral swellingswelling of the arms or legs2.9%27
- Peripheral vein thrombus extension2.9%27
- Rashskin rash2.9%27
- Erythemaskin redness2.8%26
- Therapy change2.3%22
- Burning sensationa burning feeling2.2%21
- Phlebitis2.2%21
- Blistera blister2%19
- Drug ineffectivethe medicine did not work as expected1.9%18
- Product use in unapproved indicationused for a purpose not on the label1.9%18
- Pruritusitching1.7%16
- Pulmonary embolisma blood clot in the lung1.6%15
- Headachehead pain1.5%14
- Contusiona bruise1.3%12
- Hypersensitivityan allergic-type reaction1.2%11
- Product availability issuethe product was not available1.2%11
- Swellingswelling1.2%11
- Dizzinesslight-headedness or unsteadiness1.1%10
Top 30 of 119 MedDRA preferred terms recorded across these reports, with a plain-language gloss where one is available. One report can record several terms. The hollow bar is the share of all reports in the database; it describes the reports, not the patients. FDA states that adverse event reports "represent a small percentage of total usage numbers of a product", that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product", and that the data "by themselves are not an indicator of the safety profile of the drug or biologic."
Outcomes recorded
Outcome flags as the reporter set them; a report can carry several, and "other serious" is FDA's own category for serious reports outside the named outcomes. Grey bar: all 20,646,523 reports. FDA has not verified any outcome and states that the reports "cannot be used to estimate the incidence of these events."
Patients and reporters
Patient age
Patient sex
Who reported
Age and sex as stated in the report; the reporter's qualification is the primary source recorded by FDA. 99% of reports give the United States as the country of the event or reporter.
Reason for use recorded
| Indication as recorded (MedDRA) | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Varicose vein | 242 | 25.7% |
| Peripheral venous disease | 103 | 11% |
| Endovenous ablation | 2 | 0.2% |
| Product use in unapproved indication | 2 | 0.2% |
| Varicophlebitis | 2 | 0.2% |
| Vein disorder | 2 | 0.2% |
The indication field is filled in by the reporter and is often blank; shares are of all 940 reports.
Drugs most often listed in the same reports
| Drug (any role in the report) | Reports | Share of Varithena reports |
|---|---|---|
| Aspirin | 20 | 2.1% |
| Eliquis | 12 | 1.3% |
| Levothyroxine | 12 | 1.3% |
| Atorvastatin | 11 | 1.2% |
| Asa | 10 | 1.1% |
| Gabapentin | 8 | 0.9% |
| Amlodipine | 7 | 0.7% |
| Calcium | 7 | 0.7% |
| Lisinopril | 7 | 0.7% |
| Omeprazole | 7 | 0.7% |
Other products listed in reports where Varithena is a suspect product, whatever their own role. Co-listing means the two were recorded together; it says nothing about either product's part in the event. Only the 2,500 most-reported names are counted here.
In context
| Measure | Varithena | All reports |
|---|---|---|
| Reports as suspect product | 940 | 20,646,523 |
| Share of that pool | — | 0% |
| Reports, latest 12 months | 98 | 1,332,454 |
| Marked serious | 23.4% | 57.4% |
| Death recorded among outcomes, per 1,000 reports | 1 | 91 |
| Hospitalisation recorded, per 1,000 reports | 26 | 213 |
| Consumer-filed share | 52.8% | 45.8% |
| Top term, share of reports | Deep vein thrombosis 32.7% | 0.3% |
Shares are of reports, not of patients treated. The number of people taking a product is not in the data, so none of these figures is a rate, and differences between columns reflect who takes a product, who reports and how long it has been sold. FDA states that adverse event reports "represent a small percentage of total usage numbers of a product", that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product", and that the data "by themselves are not an indicator of the safety profile of the drug or biologic."
Questions about Varithena reports
How many adverse event reports has FDA received for Varithena?
940 reports list Varithena as a suspect or interacting product in the openFDA FAERS release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through June 2026. 98 of them arrived in the latest 12 months. Another 2 list it only as a concomitant medication.
What reactions are recorded in Varithena reports?
deep vein thrombosis (32.7%), no adverse event (9.9%), product quality issue (6.8%), wrong technique in product usage process (6.6%) and pain (6.1%). These are MedDRA preferred terms coded from what the reporter described; a report can list several, and a term's presence is not a finding that Varithena was responsible.
How serious are the reports?
23.4% are marked serious by the reporter. Among the outcomes recorded, 0.1% of reports include death and 2.6% include hospitalisation. FDA has not verified these outcomes and states that the reports "cannot be used to estimate the incidence" of the events.
Who files these reports?
consumer or non-health professional (52.8%), physician (24.7%) and other health professional (22.2%). Most reports reach FDA through the manufacturer, which must forward reports it receives.
Are reports for Varithena rising?
98 reports in the 12 months to June 2026, down 36% from 152 in the 12 months before. FDA releases FAERS data quarterly, so the newest months are incomplete and grow in later releases. Counts also move with how many people take a product, its time on the market and publicity.
Do these reports show that Varithena was responsible for these reactions?
No. FDA states that "a causal relationship cannot be established between product and reactions listed in a report" and that for any given report "there is no certainty that a suspected drug caused the event." The reaction may relate to the condition being treated, to other medicines, or to something else.
Is this a list of the side effects of Varithena?
No. It is a count of what was reported to FDA. The adverse reactions observed in clinical studies are printed on the FDA-approved label, which a pharmacist or clinician can go through with you.
How do I report an adverse event?
Consumers and health professionals can report to FDA through MedWatch (Form FDA 3500 online, or 1-800-FDA-1088), or to the manufacturer, which must pass reports on. See the guide on how to report.
Where this comes from. Counts are built from the openFDA Drug Adverse Event (FAERS) bulk export released 28 Sep 2026, which holds reports FDA received through 30 Jun 2026. Drug names are as reported, resolved to the brand or generic name on the FDA label where openFDA's harmonisation matched them; classes are the pharmacologic class (EPC) from the label and the National Drug Code Directory of 17 Sep 2026. A report counts here when it lists Varithena as a suspect or interacting product; reports listing it only as a concomitant medication (2) are excluded. No report narrative, lot number, patient detail or reporter identity is published. See the methodology and sources; FDA's record is authoritative, and corrections are handled within five working days.
Drug data (FAERS) through 30 Jun 2026; device data (MAUDE) through 31 Aug 2026. Not medical advice.