Where to Buy Compression Stockings

Your doctor or physical therapist has told you you need compression stockings. Now where do you go to buy them?

Support Hose

You can buy support pantyhose online at Amazon or at most grocery stores, drug stores, and super stores. This type of stocking works best for people with mild cases of varicose veins, which are swollen and twisted veins that occur under the surface of the skin. Some brands of support hosiery include Sigvaris, Mediven, Jobst Support Hose, and Juzo.

Compression Stockings

You can buy stockings (sometimes called compression hose) online and over the counter at medical supply stores and pharmacies, like Walmart, Target, CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens. These types of stockings offer more support than support pantyhose, so they’re also useful for people with varicose veins and other vein problems.

Prescription Strength

You can buy stockings that are prescription strength at medical supply stores or pharmacies, like Walmart, Target, CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens. The pharmacist or salesperson will need to fit you for these stockings. A person would buy compression stockings like this if he or she had a more serious clotting condition, such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. To prevent clots, these types of stockings are very tight at the foot of the stocking and loosen as they go farther up the knee to help reduce blood clots and blood pooling. For people who have deep vein thrombosis, doctors recommend they buy and wear compression stockings for a year after being diagnosed.