Tranexamic acid belongs to the class of medications called antifibrinolytic agents. This medication is used to prevent or reduce bleeding in certain conditions, such as dental surgery for people with hereditary blood clotting disorders, cervical surgery, heavy menstrual bleeding, nose bleeds, and bleeding inside the eye.

In some medical conditions, the body breaks down blood clots too fast, not allowing the bleeding to stop and the wound to heal. Tranexamic acid works by blocking the breakdown of clots in the body.

This medication may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of this medication may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.

Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.

Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.

The usual adult dose of tranexamic acid is 2 to 3 tablets (1,000 mg to 1,500 mg) taken 2 to 3 times daily, depending on the condition being treated. The length of time that you will take this medication is determined by the condition being treated.

The dose of tranexamic acid for children is based on body weight. The recommended dose is 25 mg per kilogram of body weight taken 2 to 3 times a day.

If this medication is being used to prevent or reduce bleeding during dental surgery, the dose is usually calculated based on body weight.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store this medication at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.

500 mg
Each white, film-coated, capsule-shaped tablet with "CY" engraved in arcs contains 500 mg tranexamic acid. Nonmedicinal ingredients: cellulose microcrystalline, colloidal silica anhydrous, hydroxypropylcel, magnesium stearate, povidone, talcum. The tablets are coated with Eudragit E, magnesium stearate, PEG 8000, talcum, titanium dioxide, and vanillin.

Do not take tranexamic acid if you:

• are allergic to tranexamic acid or any ingredients of the medication
• have a history or are at risk of forming blood clots
• have active blood clotting conditions, such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and cerebral thrombosis
• have bleeding into the lining surrounding the brain
• have blood in the urine
• have a colour vision problem that is not genetic

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent. The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• diarrhea
• dizziness
• nausea
• vomiting

Although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not check with your doctor or seek medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• dizziness
• low blood pressure
• signs of a blood clot in blood vessels (e.g., difficulty breathing, pain and swelling in one leg muscle)
• vision changes (e.g., blurred vision, loss of sharpness of vision, impaired colour vision, loss of sight in one eye)

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• seizures
• signs of a heart attack (e.g., chest pain or pressure, pain extending through shoulder and arm, nausea and vomiting, sweating)
• signs of a serious allergic reaction (e.g., hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing)
• signs of stroke (e.g., sudden or severe headache; sudden loss of coordination; vision changes; sudden slurring of speech; or unexplained weakness, numbness, or pain in arm or leg)
• trouble urinating

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.

Birth control: Hormonal birth control, such as birth control pills, increase the risk of developing blood clots. Taking tranexamic acid along with birth control may increase your risk of developing blood clots. Women taking hormonal birth control should only use tranexamic acid in situations where the benefit will outweigh the potential risk of increased risk for blood clots. Discuss any concerns you have with your doctor.  

Blood clots: This medication increases the chance of blood clot formation, causing reduction of blood flow to organs or the extremities.

If you have a history of clotting you may be at increased risk of experiencing blood clot-related problems such as heart attack, stroke, or clots in the deep veins of your leg. Discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

If you experience symptoms such as sharp pain and swelling in the leg, difficulty breathing, chest pain, blurred vision, or difficulty speaking, contact your doctor immediately.

Drowsiness/reduced alertness: Tranexamic acid may cause drowsiness or dizziness, affecting your ability to drive or operate machinery. Avoid these and other hazardous tasks until you have determined how this medication affects you.

Kidney problems: Decreased kidney function or kidney disease may cause this medication to build up in the body. If you have kidney problems, discuss with your doctor whether any special monitoring is needed.

Vision changes: Regular use of tranexamic acid may cause changes in vision. This can include blurred vision, changed colour recognition, or a change in the field of vision. If you experience any changes to your vision while taking this medication, contact your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor may want you to have an eye examination before starting this medication, so changes to vision can be identified.

Pregnancy: This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: This medication passes into breast milk in very small amounts. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking tranexamic acid, it may affect your baby. Research has shown that it is probably safe for the baby to breast feed while you are taking this medication, however you may wish to talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication to treat heavy menstrual flow in adolescent girls have not been established.

There may be an interaction between tranexamic acid and any of the following:

• fibrinogen
• estrogen (e.g. ethinyl estradiol, estriol)
• hormonal birth control (estrogens and progesterones)
• progesterone (e.g., medroxyprogesterone)
• tibolone
• tretinoin

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.