Polidocanol

Polidocanol

Clinical data
Synonyms	Polydocanol Laureth 9 Macrogol lauryl ether Lauromacrogol PEG-9 lauryl alcohol POE-9 lauryl alcohol Dodecylpolyethyleneglycolether Hydroxyl polyethoxy dodecane Oxypolyethoxydodecane
AHFS/Drugs.com	International Drug Names
Pregnancy category	Topical: allowed Injection: contraindication in months 1–3 and after week 36
ATC code	C05BB02 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status	OTC (topical), ℞ (injection)
Identifiers
IUPAC name 2-(dodecyloxy)ethan-1-ol
CAS Number	9002-92-0 Y 3055-99-0 (with nine ethyleneglycol units)
PubChem CID	656641
UNII	0AWH8BFG9A
KEGG	D01993 Y
ChEMBL	ChEMBL1201751 N
E number	{{#property:P628}}
ECHA InfoCard	{{#property:P2566}}
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C30H62O10
Molar mass	~600 g/mol (average)
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sheng Shi, M.D. [2]

Polidocanol is a local anaesthetic and antipruritic component of ointments and bath additives. It relieves itching caused for example by dry skin conditions such as eczema.

The substance is also used as a sclerosant, an irritant injected to treat varicose veins, under the trade names Asclera and Aethoxysklerol. Polidocanol causes fibrosis inside varicose veins, occluding the lumen of the vessel, and reducing the appearance of the varicosity.

The FDA has approved polidocanol injections for the treatment of small varicose (less than 1 mm in diameter) and reticular veins (1 to 3 mm in diameter). Polidocanol works by damaging the cell lining of blood vessels, causing them to close and eventually be replaced by other types of tissue.