Stop, Reduce and Relieve
daflon is an oral treatment for cramps, swollen, heavy legs and other symptoms of Venous Disease.
Answer 5 short questions to assess your symptoms and risk factors
Heavy, Painful Legs?
Legs that feel heavy, painful and swollen can be a result of fluid build-up in the legs due to the blood not circulating as well as it should. This increased fluid leads to the symptoms of Chronic Venous Insufficiency, a condition affecting leg vein health that worsens over time. 3
Healthy Veins
Healthy veins have small valves which prevent blood from flowing backwards.
Unhealthy Veins
When the internal walls of the veins are damaged, and these valves do not work as well, blood can flow back into the veins, resulting in pooling in the lower leg and leading to uncomfortable symptoms that can worsen over time.
Symptoms of Poor Blood Flow
A range of signs and symptoms can point to poor blood flow in the legs. If you have been experiencing any of the following symptoms in your legs or ankles, you should seek treatment as they can worsen over time. 1,2
Heavy or Swollen Legs
Tired Legs
Cramping or Leg Pain
Spider or Varicose Veins
Looks familiar?
If you regularly suffer from at least one of these symptoms, take our quick self-assessment quiz and use your result to help guide your next steps.
Treat Your Symptoms Early
Heavy, painful or swollen legs can be early signs of Chronic Venous Insufficiency. If left untreated, these symptoms can increase in severity, leading to spider veins, varicose veins, and leg ulcers. The different stages of disease are described as stages 0-6 depending on the severity of the symptoms as shown here:
Stage 0
Heavy, Painful Legs
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Stage 0
Heavy, Painful Legs
The initial stage has no visible signs of Venous Disease. However, damage may have already started to accumulate inside the veins. This potentially leads to venous reflux, hence treatment should be started even if your only symptoms are heavy and painful legs.
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Stage 1
Spider/Reticular Veins
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Stage 1
Spider/Reticular Veins
Ignoring initial symptoms can cause the condition to worsen, leading to broken blood vessels, spider veins and visible veins. They are not usually painful, but are indicators of leg vein problems. It is important not to ignore these early signs as the condition can rapidly progress.
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Stage 2
Visible Varicose Veins
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Stage 2
Visible Varicose Veins
If left untreated, stage 1 will progress to stage 2 with the veins becoming unusually dilated, stretched out and sinuous. These obvious, bulging veins on the legs and ankles are clear signs of Chronic Venous Insufficiency.
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Stage 3
Swelling of the Ankle and Leg
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Stage 3
Swelling of the Ankle and Leg
Swelling may appear in stage 3, which is caused by increased pressure and leakage of fluids as a result of further deterioration of the venous walls and valves.
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Stage 4
Skin Changes
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Stage 4
Skin Changes
Continued poor circulation can lead to stage 4, characterised by darkening of the skin around your ankles, redness, dryness, itchiness, hardening of soft tissues and the development of whitish patches.
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Stage 5
Healed Ulcers
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Stage 5
Healed Ulcers
Stage 5 is defined by the presence of open but healed areas of skin called ulcers. These can be painful and affect your quality of life, making it difficult to move around.
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Stage 6
Active Ulcers
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Stage 6
Active Ulcers
At stage 6, you may develop open wounds on your legs. Internally, there is more deterioration in circulation and increased leakage in the capillaries.
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If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should speak with a healthcare professional about treatment options.
By recognising the symptoms and taking action, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of your condition progressing and lessen the impact on your day-to-day life.
RISK FACTORS YOU CAN CONTROL
Standing for long periods
Being overweight
RISK FACTORS YOU CAN’T CONTROL
Age
Gender
Genetics
Factors Affecting Blood Circulation
There are several key risk factors for Chronic Venous Insufficiency, some of which may be beyond your control, but others you can take steps to modify. 2
A positive family history, being a woman, as well as simply growing older are factors which can increase your chances of developing symptoms.
Lifestyle factors, such as being overweight and inactive, can also increase your risk of developing problems in your veins. The good news is that steps can be taken to reduce these risk factors. Those who stand or sit for a prolonged period of time as part of their occupations, such as nurses, teachers and those in the service industry, are particularly at risk.
Don’t Let Your Legs Hold You Back.
One tablet, twice a day improves vein tone and relieves painful leg symptoms.
Advice for Healthy Legs
By incorporating simple habits into your daily routine and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you can help protect your legs from the discomfort caused by increased fluid in your legs and the damage this can cause to veins over time:
Stay active
Regular exercise helps improve circulation and tone the muscles in your legs.
Avoid high heels
Choose a medium heel over flat or high-heeled shoes to encourage more lower leg activity.
Maintain a healthy weight
Keep a close eye on your weight as obesity can contribute to the blocking or weakening of valves in your legs.
Stay cool
Veins dilate in the heat which can cause blood to pool and contribute to your legs feeling heavy and tired.
Wear loose clothing
Avoid tight clothing which can restrict blood flow in the legs and exacerbate risk of Chronic Venous Insufficiency.
Elevate your legs
Raise your legs and avoid crossing them to help blood flow towards the heart when relaxing.
Move regularly
Avoid sitting or standing for too long to prevent blood from pooling in your leg veins and to help blood flow to the heart.
In addition to lifestyle modifications, topical creams and gels can be used for symptom relief, and medical procedures can treat the advanced condition. However, unlike daflon, these do not directly address blood circulation and vein health - the root cause of heavy and painful legs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Treatment of Chronic Venous Insufficiency is essential to maintaining healthy legs. If you think you are suffering from this progressive condition, speak with a healthcare professional about the best treatment(s) for you.
What is daflon used for?
daflon is an oral treatment that helps to relieve the signs and symptoms of mild-to-moderate Chronic Venous Insufficiency, such as varicose and spider veins, leg pain, leg cramps and the sensation of heavy legs. It also helps to reduce lower leg swelling associated with the condition.
Where can I find daflon?
You can find daflon at your nearest clinic or pharmacy.
How does daflon work?
daflon works by improving the tone of the veins to enhance venous circulation. This helps to reduce leg symptoms related to Venous Disease such as heaviness, pain and swelling.
What is daflon?
daflon’s active ingredient is a micronised purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF). It is composed of citrus bioflavonoids, containing 90% diosmin and 10% other flavonoids expressed as hesperidin.
What does micronised mean?
Micronised means that a substance has been broken into very small particles for more effective absorption.
How do I take daflon correctly for Chronic Venous Insufficiency?
Simply take 1 tablet of daflon twice a day with meals, once during midday and once during the evening, or as directed by your healthcare practitioner.
How long should I take daflon for?
daflon is a continuous treatment for an ongoing progressive condition. Otherwise directed by your doctor or pharmacist, it is recommended that you use daflon.
I take a lot of medication, can daflon be taken with other medications?
You should speak with your doctor and discuss whether daflon is safe to combine with your other medications.
How tolerated is daflon?
daflon is well tolerated, and side effects observed in trials were mild. Possible side effects include hypersensitivity/allergy, gastrointestinal discomfort, dizziness, headaches, malaise, and skin reactions.
Safety Information:
daflon 500mg Safety Information
COMPOSITION*: Micronized purified flavonoid fraction 500mg: 450mg diosmin; 50mg flavonoids expressed as hesperidin. INDICATIONS*: Treatment of organic and functional chronic venous insufficiency of the lower limbs with the following symptoms: swollen legs; pain; nocturnal cramps. Treatment of chronic hemorrhoids and acute hemorrhoidal attacks. DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION*: In chronic conditions: 1000mg daily. In acute hemorrhoidal attacks: the dosage can be increased up to 3000mg daily. CONTRAINDICATIONS*: Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients. WARNINGS*: The administration of this product for the symptomatic treatment of acute haemorrhoids does not preclude treatment for other anal conditions. If symptoms do not subside promptly, a proctological examination should be performed and the treatment should be reviewed. Excipients: sodium-free. INTERACTIONS*: None. FERTILITY*/ PREGNANCY*. BREASTFEEDING*: Avoid use of this product during pregnancy. Breast feeding is not recommended. DRIVE & USE MACHINES*. UNDESIRABLE EFFECTS*: Common: diarrhoea, dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting. Rare: dizziness, headache, malaise, rash, pruritis, urticaria. Uncommon: colitis. Frequency not known: abdominal pain, isolated face, lip, eyelid oedema. Exceptionally Quincke’s oedema. OVERDOSE*. PROPERTIES*: Vascular protector and venotonic. Daflon 500mg acts on the return vascular system: it reduces venous distensibility and venous stasis; in the microcirculation, it normalizes capillary permeability and reinforces capillary resistance. PRESENTATION*: Pack of 30 film-coated tablets of Daflon 500mg. SERVIER(S) PTE LTD 67 Ubi Avenue 1, #06-09 StarHub Green, Singapore 408942. www.servier.com
*For complete information, please refer to the Singapore Package Insert.
References:
- Adapted from Nicolaides A, Kakkos S, Baekgaard N, et al. Management of chronic venous disorders of the lower limbs.
- Guidelines according to scientific evidence. Part I. Int Angiol. 2018;37(3):181-254.1 Bergan JJ et al. N Engl J Med. 2006;355:488-4981.
