Tranexamic Acid Uses And Side effects You should Know

Tranexamic Acid assists in the control of bleeding. Emerging studies

Indicates it has the potential to be a good skincare componenet and could

be especially beneficial for treatment of dark spots and

hyperpigmentation as well as just brightening skin .

Tranexamic acid or TXA as some prefer to call it – is a medication that

helps in blood clotting. Again this is the only indication for which TXA is

commercially available at this time but there are several lines of research

that support off-label uses in dermatology. In this article we should learn

about tranexamic acid uses and Side effects you should know.

What is Tranexamic Acid?

Tranexamic Acid is a manufactured compound originating from the

amino acid lysine. It is a fundamental medicine in the management of

antifibrinolytic therapy and hemostasis. Its introduction and development

has revolutionized the management of bleeding disorders, surgical

procedures and management of trauma.

Brand Name

Try to see if Tranexamic acid falls under the following brand names:

● Cyklokapron

● Lysteda

Generic Name

Its generic name is Tranexamic Acid.

Tranexamic acid available in following forms:

● Oral tablets

● Injections

● Mouthwash

Tranexamic Acid Uses

As a drug with a range of medical applications, tranexamic acid is important for managing

to its antifibrinolytic effects. The main application of tranexamic acid uses is to help manage and stop excessive bleeding in different clinical situations.

The following is a list of more common tranexamic acid uses:

Excessive Menstrual Flow

Excessive Menstrual bleeding is common. It occurs in many women and

Presents a possibility of causing anemia and impacting life quality negatively.

Tranexamic acid is frequently recommended for the treatment of heavy

menstrual bleeding to decrease blood loss. Tranexamic acid acts to

stabilize the clots of blood that form in the internal lining of the uterus

endometrium , during menstruation which decrease the amount of blood

loss over the course of menstruation.

Trauma

Tranexamic acid was shown to reduce all cause mortality in patients with

substantial bleeding from trauma . Tranexamic acid is administered in

emergency situations of major trauma like from car accidents to stop

excessive bleeding. The time of administration is important. It

delivers the most advantages when given quickly, ideally within three hours of substantial trauma.

Tranexamic acid also reduces the chances of death from injury when

given within the initial 3 hours of our brain injury.

Surgical procedures

Surgical teams commonly use tranexamic acid to limit bleeding before

and after operations.

● In orthopaedic surgery, tranexamic acid is sometimes employed to

accelerate bleeding prevention and is so effective in circumstances

that it has reduced or eliminated the need for perioperative blood

transfusion. It assists in maintaining a clean surgical area,

reducing bleeding when used either before or after surgery .It

reduces the duration of drain placement and number of

transfusions.

● In surgical management of craniosynostosis in children,

tranexamic acid has decreased the need for blood transfusions.

● Consider spinal surgery for scoliosis where tranexamic acid

is implemented in conjunction with posterior spinal fusion and instrumentation for the core

in order to decrease blood loss.

● In order to control excessive bleeding during cardiac procedures, tranexamic acid is used in both the presence

and absence of cardiopulmonary bypass.

e.g. coronary artery bypass surgery.

Dental Procedures

For short term tranexamic acid is used in those with severe bleeding disorders

prior to dental surgery. It’s possible to use tranexamic acid for a little while prior

to surgery and for a few days afterwards, to prevent serious blood loss

and it can also help in reducing blood transfusions.

Nosebleeds

Tranexamic acid, used topically applied to the bleeding tissue or by

mouth, is effective in stopping nosebleeds as compared to the nasal

packing with cotton pallets only. Tranexamic acid reduces the rate of

rebleeding within 10 days.

Hematology

There is insufficient evidence to recommend tranexamic acid for

bleeding prevention in patients with blood cancers routinely. However ,

many studies are currently evaluating these indications for tranexamic

acid. It is sometimes given to the patients with inherited bleeding

disorders like von Willebrand’ s disorder. Generally prescribed

For those with bleeding disorders acquried later in life needing treatment for significant

bleeding.

Childbirth

A common postpartum treatment involves administering tranexamic acid with oxytocin

minimize bleeding. It’s important to note that rare cases of death in women have been documented where tranexamic

acid was used.

Cosmetic Applications

Skin care products may contain tranexamic acid that is beneficial to

minimise the look of redness and uneven skin tone. Tranexamic acid is

an amino acid that exists as zwitterion, which has some low permeability

coefficient of assimilation in the stratum corneum.

Tranexamic acid can be used with micro needling and penetration

enhancers to work against the low permeability of tranexamic acid.

Tranexamic Acid Side Effects

Typically tranexamic acid is well tolerated and beneficial in prevention

and management of excessive bleeding. As with any medication some

Tranexamic acid uses can sometimes lead to side effects. Side

effects can be mild to severe and it’s important to know about tranexamic acid side

effects to properly manage them and discuss them with the health care

professionals if necessary. Side effects are grouped as common less

common and rare which are following:

Common Tranexamic Acid side effects

Tranexamic Acid may cause minor side effects. As your body adjusts to

the medication the side effects may fade.

Some of the common tranexamic acid Side effects includes:

● Stomachache or distress

● Diarrhea

● Nausea

● Vomiting

● Significant headache

● Pain in back or joints

● Fever

● Chills

● Muscle discomfort

● Rigidity in muscles

● Nose feeling blocked or watery

● Reduce range of motion

Usually common tranexamic acid side effects do not require watching by a doctor.

Talk to your doctor if you have worries about these side effects . He or she

Might be able to inform you and assist in reducing or

avoid common tranexamic acid side effects.

If you develop any side effects that are not listed, please call your doctor.

Less common tranexamic acid side effects

Allergic Reactions like:

● Facial,lip or tongue swelling

● Feeling itchy

● Skin rash

● Difficult breathing

● Tiredness

● Vision problems

● Changes in color vision

● Unusual weakness

● Visual field deficits

Serious Side Effects

It’s important to be aware of these rare but serious effects of tranexamic acid :

Blood Clots

Tranexamic acid may increase your chances of developing blood clots in artries or veins. It might

lead to a stroke, or other blood clot disorders specifically a venous thromboembolism

your lungs or have deep venous thrombosis. If you observe any of

these signs of blood clots , inhibit tranexamic acid use and

get emergency help.

Eye problems

Tranexamic acid has been linked toa serious eye inflamation called conjunctivies.

if you have develope the following symptoms , stop the medication and immmediately

consult your healthcare provider:

Red,itchy,or painful eyes

Swelling on eyelids

Dry,watery eyes

Changes in vision

Contraindications For Tranexamic Acid Uses

Known sensetivity to any of the components or an individual allergy to any ingredient

should avoid taking tranexamic acid.

Contraceptives : Tranexamic acid should not be used if you are currently taking any form of contraceptive or

birth control that has both an estrogen and progestin.

If you have experienced blood clots in the past or have them now

avoid using tranexamic acid.

If you have had a blood clot in the past or a condition that would increase your

conditions like cancer or artial fibrillation can increase your susceptibility to blood clots.

In Kidney Problems

Frequently asked questions

Does tranexamic acid clear skin?

Yes, tranexamic acid can assist in clearing the skin by reducing the

appearance of hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone.

What do we know about safety of using tranexamic acid for a long time period?

Tranexamic acid is generally used to treat bleeding for a short time

period.

What should be avoided with tranexamic acid?

For the most part you can take tranexamic acid with other medications . However if

you take the combined contraceptive pills, you should discuss this with

your doctor or pharmacist. Using tranexamic acid and hormonal contraception together

may slightly raise your risk of developing a blood clot

pill at the same time.