tranexamic acid at a glance
Medicine class
Antifibrinolytic antihaemorrhagic.
Main role
Slows breakdown of fibrin already formed; it does not create a new clot.
Available forms
Tablets are taken by mouth; injections are normally administered in hospital. Mouthwash may also be prescribed.
Food
Tablets may be taken with or without food.
What is tranexamic acid used for?
Uses represented by the selected products include:
Reducing heavy menstrual bleeding in adults with regular periods.
Preventing or treating bleeding caused by general or local fibrinolysis, including gastrointestinal, urinary-tract, surgical and dental bleeding.
Managing bleeding caused by a fibrinolytic medicine.
How does tranexamic acid work?
Fibrin forms the mesh of a blood clot. Tranexamic acid binds to plasminogen and reduces plasmin activity, slowing fibrin breakdown so clots remain stable where bleeding needs to stop.
tranexamic acid preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 500 mg
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 100 mg/mL, 500 mg/5 mL
How to take tranexamic acid
Follow the prescription, pharmacist's instructions or pack leaflet for the particular product.
Swallow tablets whole with water; they may be taken with or without food.
For the pharmacy heavy-period product, start only after heavy bleeding has begun. Do not use it for irregular menstrual bleeding without medical assessment.
Injection is for intravenous administration by healthcare professionals only. It must never be injected into the spine, brain or muscle.
tranexamic acid side effects
Common or expected effects
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea.
Get urgent medical advice
- Painful, swollen, red and warm arm or leg, which may indicate a blood clot.
- Sudden breathlessness, sharp chest pain, coughing or coughing blood, which may indicate a pulmonary embolism.
- New blurred vision, altered colour vision or other visual disturbance.
- Seizure.
- Facial, mouth or throat swelling, breathing difficulty, collapse or other features of anaphylaxis.
tranexamic acid in pregnancy
The pharmacy heavy-period product is contraindicated during pregnancy. Prescription or hospital tranexamic acid may sometimes be used when clinically needed, including around childbirth, but requires individual clinician assessment because it crosses the placenta and pregnancy evidence remains limited.
tranexamic acid while breastfeeding
Tranexamic acid passes into breast milk in small amounts. It may be compatible when a clinician confirms the baby is healthy, but evidence is limited. The pharmacy heavy-period product advises consulting a doctor before use. Seek advice if the baby feeds poorly, is unusually restless, vomits or develops diarrhoea.
tranexamic acid interactions
Tranexamic acid can be used with many medicines, but treatments affecting clotting require particular care.
Combined hormonal contraceptives
Concurrent use may increase thrombosis risk. The selected pharmacy heavy-period product must not be used with oral contraceptives; prescribed use requires clinician review.
Warfarin and other anticoagulants
The pharmacy heavy-period product is contraindicated; concurrent hospital treatment requires specialist supervision.
Common questions about tranexamic acid
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Does tranexamic acid stop a period completely?
No. It reduces menstrual blood loss by slowing clot breakdown but does not normally stop menstruation altogether.
Can tranexamic acid be taken with the combined pill?
Ask a doctor or pharmacist because the combination may increase blood-clot risk. The selected pharmacy heavy-period product must not be used with oral contraceptives.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.