Clinical trial of oral diosmin (Daflon) in the treatment of hemorrhoids

Abstract

A double-blind, comparative, controlled study on the effectiveness of the addition of oral diosmin (Daflon; Lab. Servier, Orléans, France) and placebo to a conservative regimen of bulk laxative in the treatment of acute symptoms of first-degree and second-degree internal hemorrhoids was undertaken in 100 patients. The diosmin and placebo groups, with 50 patients each, were comparable in age, sex, symptoms, and the severity of the underlying hemorrhoids. During the first four days, the patients received 12 tablets in three divided doses, and then they received two tablets twice daily for another 10 days. Subjective and objective changes were assessed at the 4th and 14th days of treatment. The diosmin group showed statistically significant objective improvement (P < 0.01) without accompanying subjective improvement on the fourth day. However, at day 14, there was no significant difference in either subjective or objective improvement between the two groups. Two cases in the placebo group were taken out of the trial on the fourth day owing to clinical deterioration. No side effect of diosmin was detected in this study.