Tranexamic acid

[ImFree2doasiwant]

Does anyone know how it works? I've been prescribed it, GP saud she didnt think it would work but worth trying while I'm being referred to the gynae (there are no appointments available......)

I have very (VERY) heavy, very long periods. I'm very anaemic as a result.

I've been told to take 2 tablets 3 times a day for the first 4 days. I'm wondering, if this works, what happens to all the blood? As in normally, I'll have a very heavy 3 week long period. The nothing or just spotting for 3 weeks, then another very heavy 3 week long period.

I don't understand how taking tablets for 4 days will stop the flow that has to come out sometime?

Yes, I was prescribed it and it worked although I was sceptical.

It was after emptying a full 30ml mooncup 6 times a day for the first 3 days of my period that I realised just how heavy mine were. One time had a clot that filled the thing on its own.

The TA didn't work as well as I expected, to start with but i was only having to change my sanpro half as many times. Then I realised I'd read the prescription wrong, and I was only taking 1 tan at a time instead of 2 . Once I got the dose right I was amazed! It went to what I think a normal flow would call heavy, instead of the waterfall I had been experiencing. I know exactly what you mean about the clot feeling.

Keep an open mind, you might be surprised!

Worked very well for my daughter who was also anaemic from her periods.
No idea how it works but don't care.

Worked for me. Take lots as soon as your period starts.

I’m of the blood pours out like water variety. I took TA and all it did was create bigger clots, which were causing terrible pain when being expelled. I’ve given up on it. I reside by my en-suite for 4 days and can’t live the house as the bleeding is so bad.

@Milomonster that's my issue,I already get huge clots. Maybe thatswhat the GP said she didn't think it would be lf help.

I also dont get much pain, even when losing these huge clots. Possibly my cervix is not fully closed after the brutal extraction of an almost 11lb baby.

@ImFree2doasiwant I think no harm in trying especially since you don’t get pain before the clots are expelled. At least you will have ruled TA out. My uterus is contracts in pain and so I know it’s time to birth a massive clot . I have fibroids and I suspect I’m peri-menopausal, which explains mine. I hope you find something to ease it. I’m looking into ablation and hysto as a very last reaort. I don’t want to spend the next 10 years in this state.

@PatriciaPerch

if you have thickening of the womb they have to fast track you, chase up your GP x

This. You should be on the two week pathway. I was in a similar situation in March just before COVID really hit and was referred to a gynae within two weeks. Push your GP for this. I had incredibly long and heavy periods, polyps and a thickened endometrium, and because I was seen so quickly my endometrial cancer was found at an early stage. Tranexamic acid didn't really work for me when I was prescribed it though.

It worked for me, like you I was losing ridiculous amounts of blood, my periods seemed to have gone to three weeks on, one week off, and going more than a five second dash from a loo was a terrifying worry. I was falling asleep every time I sat down. I had a GP appointment and she organised a blood test. That was in the morning. At lunchtime I had a call to come to the surgery urgently, the bloods had been processed and I was within hours of collapse due to anaemia! I was immediately given an injection of high dose iron, put on ferrous fumerate tablets to replace the lost iron, and tranexamic acid in the same dosages you've been prescribed.

I feel very lucky that I have a GP who takes women's health seriously.

Trane a ich acid worked for me, when I remembered to take it. My periods were a bit inconsistent and I was used to it, so tended to try and put up with it. When I remembered it was amazing. On one occasion, after I'd had a coil removed, I was struggling to manage and thinking I might need to go to a&e. I took the TA and it was like a switch. Thank God.

I had clots, but it still worked.

Thank god for menopause is all I can say. I'm almost there- periods every ten months or so. It's like a different world. No more sitting on cardigans at work, staying home unless leaving was essential (well, except Covid )

Did nothing for DD 15

I have been on it for the first half of this year due to menopausal flooding and a hemorrhage in February.
It works really well for me. It really slowed down my non stop period and made it a normal 5-7 days instead of a 3 week flood.
I stopped taking it in August as I would almost stop bleeding as soon as I started (with tranaxemic acid) and all was well until last month when I had an unexpected flood again.
But i took it and it slowed it down enough to make it manageable again.

I do think pushing for investigations is so important too.

Like a PP I am so lucky to have a woman doctor who not only takes women's health seriously but listens.

@Milomonster ugh I'm sorry you get pain. I dobt wish for pain by any means but I do wish I had a warning when I was about to lose large clots.

@DivisionBelles I have been referred, the GP did the federal immediately. I had a letter back from the gynae dept very quickly, to tell me that there were no appointments . I'm not sure how to get past this! I hope you are ok now.

@QueenOfLabradors I'm on iron tabletsand have had iron infusions in the past. I have no iron stores. I'm exhausted and struggle to function normally. I'll be thrilled if the TA acid works! I'm trying it, but I'm not yet convinced.

@ImFree2doasiwant good to hear they're on the case for your iron levels and absolutely everything crossed for you!

@ImFree2doasiwant that's not good at all. My initial appt with the gynae was by phone before they even did any further investigations. Are they not offering that option at all?

Maybe our NHS trust is different as all routine gynae appts went ahead during the first lockdown. Indeed, I was amazed at the speed I was sorted out. Diagnosis to hysterectomy in less than two weeks and for that I am incredibly grateful. I'm fine now and having no periods is totally liberating, although the menopause sucks as I'm not allowed HRT.

So much for all the NHS advertising saying that you should seek help if something is wrong though.

It's a bloody miracle drug for me! I wish I'd been prescribed it a decade ago. I found the 2 tablets 3 times a day too much and it stopped my period altogether so now I take half that and it's so much better. I also use a cup, giant washable pad and period pants overnight so I don't have to worry about leaks in my bed. I really hope it works for you!

I've had this and it didn't help me, it caused my bleeding to be lighter but longer. That didn't work for me as I have another condition that is hormone sensitive and it prolonged the debilitating symptoms of that.

I'm now booked in to have an ablation which should reduce or stop my periods completely. I've had abnormal mid cycle bleeding as well so just been moved up the list.

I'm also anaemic and flood at work etc. It's grim and depressing tbh, I'm so hopeful the ablation will work for me.

@DivisionBelles I might call the department directly. The GP didn't seem concerned at all about the thickened womb lining. Glad you got sorted quickly.