In patients with venous disorders related to oral contraceptives, venotonic treatment should be prescribed for as long as contraception is maintained. 2,295 patients between the ages of 20 and 40 years with venous insufficiency revealed or aggravated by oral contraceptives were randomised to receive venotonic treatment for one month either continuously or in parallel with active contraceptive treatment, from the 10th to the 28th day. The results demonstrated the values of prolonged treatment of venous disease, as its effects persisted and were reinforced with time. The possibility of intermittent prescription would appear to improve compliance and lower the cost of treatment while ensuring comparable long-term efficacy.
PIP: Throughout France, physicians randomly assigned 2295 women with vein insufficiency, which was either disclosed or aggravated by use of a combined oral contraceptive (OC), to the group treated by two doses of the extract of Ribes nigrum every day for 24 weeks or to the group treated with the same dose of the phlebotonic drug only during days 10-28 of the cycle (i.e., parallel with OC use). There were 968 women in the first group and 1023 in the second group. Continuous treatment significantly reduced signs and symptoms of vein insufficiency (p 0.001). In fact, after 24 weeks of treatment, pain and edema were absent in 89.1% and 79.6% of women, respectively. Treatment only during days 10-28 of the cycle also significantly reduced signs and symptoms (p 0.001). The disappearance rate of the various signs and symptoms among women in the second group were comparable with the rate of women in the first group. After 24 weeks of treatment parallel with OC use, the disappearance rate ranged from 61% to 96%, depending on the sign or symptom. The effects of both treatments continued and improved with time. These findings show that intermittent use of the phlebotonic drug equals that of daily use. It appears that intermittent use will improve compliance and reduce drug costs while maintaining long-term efficacy.