Troxerutin is a medication used in the treatment of varicose veins and other disorders which cause blood to pool. It is in a class of medications known as flavonoids and works by repairing damage to capillaries and making them less susceptible to subsequent damage. Troxerutin is derived from the Japanese pagoda tree and has been widely used in Western medicine since the 1960s.
Treatment with troxerutin is administered in a two different phases. In the first phase of treatment, medication is injected either into a vein or a muscle. Alternatively, or sometimes additionally, a patient may be given an oral dose for two to four weeks. Dosing is usually higher at the beginning of treatment and then lowered to maintenance levels once symptoms improve.
After initial treatment with injections or oral medication, patients may be given a topical treatment. The medication is usually suspended in a gel, which is spread on the affected area once or twice daily. This method of administration is quite effective in relieving the symptoms of varicose veins and in reversing the damage to the blood vessels that is caused by the condition.
Troxerutin helps treat venous disorders such as varicose veins in a number of different ways. It helps to stabilize cell walls, making them less permeable, so that fluids are passed between cells and blood cells at normal levels. The medication also affects the quality of the capillaries that supply oxygen to these cells by making them stronger and less brittle. The walls of the veins in the affected area also become more stable, so that platelets do not stick to them and fluids are able to pass freely through them. This prevents blood from pooling in the veins, which is the main cause and symptom of the varicose vein disorder.
Though it is most commonly used to treat varicose veins, troxerutin can also be used to treat other disorders, such as hemorrhoids, that involve the pooling of blood in the veins. Venous insufficiency, which is a similar condition to varicose veins, can also be treated with troxerutin, though topical treatment may not be possible because the condition affects the veins on the interior of the legs and not on the surface. Double blind studies comparing this medication to placebo have shown it to be an effective treatment for this condition.