Tranexamic Acid: Dosage, Side Effects, Uses, and Review

What is Tranexamic Acid

Tranexamic Acid (sometimes shortened to TXA) belongs to a group of medicines called antifibrinolytic drugs (Drugs that help your blood clot)

What are they used for?

These are used to stop or reduce unwanted bleeding. When you bleed your body forms clots to stop the bleeding. In some people, these break down causing too much bleeding. Tranexamic Acid stops these clots from dissolving and so reduces unwanted bleeding. Tranexamic Acid is used to prevent or reduce bleeding for a short time in many different conditions.

Tranexamic Acid may be prescribed to you for one of the following:

• Following prostate surgery (post-prostatectomy).
• Following bladder surgery.
• Heavy Period (Menorrhagia)
• Nose bleeds (Epistaxis)
• Cervical surgery (Conisation of the Cervix)
• Bleeding inside the eye (Traumatic hyphaema)
• Tooth removal (Dental extraction) in haemophiliacs (people who bleed more easily than normal). You will know if this refers to you.
• A hereditary disease called angioneurotic oedema (HANO). A doctor will have told you to have this.

What you need to know before you take Tranexamic Acid

Do not take Tranexamic Acid:

• if you are allergic to tranexamic acid or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
• if you have serious problems with your kidneys (kidney failure)
• if you have a blood clot in your blood vessels (called a thrombosis)
• if you have a history of blood clots in your blood vessels (called a thrombosis)
• if you have disseminated intravascular coagulation ( DIC ), a disease where your blood starts to clot throughout your body
• If you have a history of fits

If any of the above applies to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor before taking Tranexamic Acid:

• if you have blood in your urine.
• if you have ever had any uncontrollable bleeding.
• if you have disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), a disease where your blood starts to clot throughout your body.
• If you have been taking medicine to treat a hereditary disease called angioneurotic oedema (HANO) every day for a long time. If so, you may need to have regular eye tests and blood tests to check your liver is working properly.
• if you are a woman with irregular periods If you have a history of blood clots in your blood vessels (called a thrombosis).
• if anyone in your family has suffered from blood clots in their blood vessels.
• If you have kidney disease.
• if you have been taking oral contraceptives.

Other medicines and tranexamic acid

Tell your doctor if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.

You should specifically tell your doctor if you take:

Fibrinolytic drugs (used to help dissolve blood clots), such as streptokinase. This is because Tranexamic Acid will stop these drugs from working.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding and fertility

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you might be pregnant or are planning to have a baby ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

HOW TO TAKE TRANEXAMIC ACID

How to take Tranexamic Acid

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you.

It’s Important You This:

Your doctor will choose the dose that is right for you. Your dose will be shown clearly on the label that your pharmacist puts on your medicine. If it does not, or you are not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Remember this before taking tranexamic:

Your medicine should always be taken with a glass of water. The tablets should be swallowed whole. Do not crush or chew them.

Adults and the elderly dose:

The usual dose is 2 or 3 tablets taken two to three times daily