Asclera (Polidocanol Injection) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

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May 25, 2012

Asclera

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What are veins and what is their function?

Veins are blood vessels that return blood from all the organs in the body toward the heart. When the different organs use oxygen from the blood to perform their functions, they release the used blood containing waste products (such as carbon dioxide) into the veins. Blood in the veins is then transported to the heart and returned to the lungs, where the waste carbon dioxide is released and more oxygen is loaded by the blood and taken back to the rest of the body by the arteries.

Veins also act as a storage for unused blood. When the body is at rest, only a portion of the available blood in the body circulates. The rest of the blood remains inactive in the veins and enters the active circulation when the body becomes more active and needs the additional blood to carry oxygen to entire body. This storing capacity is due to the elasticity (flexibility to expand) of the walls of the veins.

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Asclera

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Asclera
(polidocanol) Injection, for Intravenous use

DRUG DESCRIPTION

Asclera (polidocanol injection) is a sterile, nonpyrogenic, and colorless to faintly greenish-yellow solution of polidocanol for intravenous use as a sclerosing agent.

The active ingredient, polidocanol is a non-ionic detergent, consisting of two components, a polar hydrophilic (dodecyl alcohol) and an apolar hydrophobic (polyethylene oxide) chain. Polidocanol has the following structural formula:

Asclera (polidocanol) Structural Formula Illustration

C₁₂H₂₅(OCH₂CH₂)_nOH Polyethylene glycol monododecyl ether

Mean extent of polymerization (n) : Approximately 9
Mean molecular weight : Approximately 600

Each mL contains 5 mg (0.5%) or 10 mg (1.0%) polidocanol in water for injection with 5% (v/v) ethanol at pH 6.5-8.0; disodium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate are added for pH adjustment.

Last reviewed on RxList: 4/16/2010
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.