Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate (SOE-dee-um tet-ra-DEK-ul SUL-fate) is a type of medicine called a sclerosing agent. It is used for the treatment of small varicose veins of the lower extremities.

This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription, in the following dosage forms:

Parenteral
• Injection (U.S.)

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For sodium tetradecyl sulfate, the following should be considered:

Allergies: Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to sodium tetradecyl sulfate. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy: Sodium tetradecyl sulfate has not been studied in pregnant women or animals.

Breast-feeding: It is not known whether sodium tetradecyl sulfate passes into the breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children: Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of sodium tetradecyl sulfate in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults: Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing the use of sodium tetradecyl sulfate in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines: Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking sodium tetradecyl sulfate, it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:

• Antiovulatory drugs: May increase your risk for adverse reactions

• Allergic conditions or
• Bedridden or
• Cellulitis or
• Deep vein incompetence or
• Huge superficial veins with connections to deeper veins or
• Infections or
• Migrans or
• Respiratory diseases or
• Skin diseases or
• Thrombophlebitis or
• Valvular vein incompetence or
• Varicosities caused by abdominal and pelvic tumors (unless the tumor has been removed): Sodium tetradecyl sulfate should not be administered

• Asthma or
• Blood dyscrasias or
• Diabetes or
• Hyperthyroidism or
• Neoplasm or
• Sepsis or
• Tuberculosis: Sodium tetradecyl sulfate should not be administered

• Peripheral arteriosclerosis or
• Thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger’s disease): Extreme caution should be used; sodium tetradecyl sulfate may make these conditions worse

The importance of a preinjection evaluation.

The importance of slow injections with a small amount (not over 2 milliliters) of sodium tetradecyl sulfate solution.

Dosing:

The dose of sodium tetradecyl sulfate will be different for different patients. Your doctor will administer the injections. The following information includes only the average doses of sodium tetradecyl sulfate.

• For injection dosage form:
  • For varicose veins:
    • Adults: 0.5 to 2 milliliters injected into the vein, depending on the size and degree of varicosity.
    • Children: Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

The occurrence of embolism up to 4 weeks following injection of sodium of tetradecyl sulfate.

The possible development of deep vein thrombosis.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

• Frequency not known
  • Anxiety; burning;  chest pain; cough; difficulty breathing; difficulty swallowing;  dizziness or lightheadedness; fast heartbeat; fainting; hayfever;  hives; itching; nausea; noisy breathing; pain, redness, or swelling in arm or leg; puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips or tongue; raised red swellings on the skin, lips, tongue, or in the throat ;  redness of skin; skin rash;  sudden shortness of breath or troubled breathing;  tightness in chest; unusual tiredness or weakness ; vomiting; wheezing  
  
  

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome.

• Frequency not known
  • Headache; pain, local; pain or redness at site of injection;  pale skin at site of injection; peeling or sloughing of skin; ulceration at site of injection  
  
  

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

In the U.S.:

• Sclerosing agent