Tranexamic Acid 500mg Tablets

What is Tranexamic Acid?

Tranexamic Acid is a type of medication known as an antifibrinolytic agent. It works by blocking the breakdown of blood clots, preventing excessive bleeding in the process.

This medication is most commonly used by women suffering from heavy menstrual bleeding.

Tranexamic Acid is available in tablet form without the need to see your GP through The Independent Pharmacy to treat heavy periods; you’ll just need to answer a short questionnaire so that our clinical team can be sure this medication is right for you.

What is Tranexamic Acid used for?

Tranexamic Acid is suitable for treating a variety of conditions related to excessive bleeding. While it’s most commonly taken by women suffering from heavy menstrual bleeding during their periods, Tranexamic Acid may also be used in the following scenarios:

• Following prostate surgery
• Following bladder surgery
• Following cervical surgery
• Bleeding inside the eye (traumatic hyphema)
• Tooth removal (dental extraction) in haemophiliacs (people who bleed more easily than normal)

At The Independent Pharmacy, we only supply Tranexamic Acid 500mg Tablets for heavy periods.

How does Tranexamic Acid work?

Tranexamic Acid is a type of medicine called an antifibrinolytic. It helps to stop bleeding by preventing your body from producing an enzyme that normally dissolves blood clots.

By helping the blot to clot, Tranexamic Acid prevents excessive bleeding caused by heavy periods, nosebleeds, surgery, or conditions such as hereditary angioedema.

Will Tranexamic Acid stop my period?

If you’re using it to help reduce bleeding during your period, Tranexamic Acid can reduce menstrual blood loss by up to 58 percent. However, it’s not a hormonal medication and it won’t stop your periods, it will only make them lighter.

If you’re looking to delay your period, our Online Pharmacy can supply a course of Provera 10mg Tablets or Norethisterone 5mg Tablets, which can postpone your period for up to 17 days.

Who can take Tranexamic Acid?

Tranexamic Acid can be prescribed for adults and children of all ages, but this doesn’t mean it’s suitable for everyone.

To ensure Tranexamic Acid is safe for you, inform your doctor before taking this medicine if you:

• Have ever had an allergic reaction to Tranexamic Acid in the past
• Have ever had a DVT (deep vein thrombosis)
• Have ever had a pulmonary embolism (blocked blood vessel in your lungs)
• Have had a coagulopathy (a rare condition where lots of small blood clots form in your blood followed by abnormal bleeding)
• Have epilepsy
• Have kidney issues
• Are pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• Are taking oral contraceptives
• Have irregular periods – this is important, as your doctor will then prioritise finding the root cause of your irregular bleeding and may recommend a different method of treatment

How to take Tranexamic Tablets

If you've been told to take the tablets 3 or 4 times a day, do your best to space the doses evenly throughout the day. You can take them with or without food.

For adults, the usual dose is 2 or 3 500mg tablets, taken 3 times a day. A person with kidney problems will usually require lower doses, but this should be discussed with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is my dose likely to change?

Most people taking Tranexamic Acid take 2 tablets (1,000mg), 3 times daily. If this isn’t working well enough to control your bleeding, your doctor may tell you to increase your dosage by taking 2 tablets, 4 times a day.

What if I forget to take a dose?

If you forget to take a dose of Tranexamic Acid, be sure to take it as soon as you remember unless it’s close to the time for your next dose. If this is the case, it’s safe to skip your missed dose, as long as you take your next one. Never take 2 doses at the same time to make up for a missed dose.

If you forget your doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. Your pharmacist may also be able to suggest other ways to help you remember to take your medication.

What if I take too much by accident?

Taking a single extra dose of Tranexamic Acid by accident isn’t likely to harm you.

However, if you take too much, you may suffer from side effects. These can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and dizziness. If you experience these side effects even when you’re taking your medication as prescribed, contact your doctor.

Call NHS on 111 immediately if you've taken 2 extra doses of Tranexamic Acid (or more) and:

• You experience problems with your eyesight
• You experience pain in one of your legs or arms, or they become swollen, red, and warm to the touch
• You suddenly become short of breath, experience a sharp pain in your chest, or start coughing up blood

Tranexamic Acid side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although very few people will experience them. This is because there are no known common side effects associated with Tranexamic Acid 500mg Tablets.

However, you must stop taking this medicine and call 999 or go straight to the hospital if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Pain or a feeling of tightness in your chest
• Trouble breathing
• Unusual swelling of your mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat
• Fainting

To check any rarer side effects, please consult the Patient Information Leaflet.

Tranexamic Acid and pregnancy

The use of Tranexamic Acid isn't recommended for use during pregnancy, as there isn’t enough information to confirm whether it’s safe yet. However, your doctor may prescribe it if they think the benefits of the medicine outweigh the risks.

Ask your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking Tranexamic Acid if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

Tranexamic Acid and breastfeeding

There is a possibility of Tranexamic Acid getting into breast milk in small amounts. However, this medicine is generally considered safe for breastfeeding mothers and babies.

If you have any concerns about taking Tranexamic Acid while you're breastfeeding, talk to your doctor.

Can I take Tranexamic Acid with other medicine?

Tranexamic Acid is safe to take alongside most other medications, but you should always consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking it with any other treatment.

You should talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking the combined pill and plan on using Tranexamic Acid alongside it, as this can lead to a tiny increase in the risk of developing a blood clot.

Tranexamic Acid 500mg Tablets ingredients

The active substance in each 500mg tablet is tranexamic acid.

The other ingredients are: Cellulose microcrystalline, povidone (K 90), croscarmellose sodium, silica colloidal anhydrous, talc, magnesium stearate, methacrylate polymers, titanium dioxide (E171), talc, magnesium stearate, macrogol (8000).

Sources

• Tranexamic Acid Patient Information Leaflet: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.2359.pdf

Tranexamic acid warnings

Do not take Tranexamic Acid:

• If you are allergic to tranexamic acid or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in the 'Ingredients' section).
• 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 - do not take Tranexamic Acid.

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.