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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask if you knew how life-changing tranexemic acid is?

45 replies

Confrontayshunme · 20/12/2021 14:09

I didn't realise until five years ago (when I got a menstrual cup) that I have insanely heavy period. I just thought everyone had to wear an overnight pad plus ultra tampon and change every hour the first two days of their period.

I had a male GP who kept telling me I needed to treat my anaemia but no real solution beyond endless iron tablets and trials of birth control pills(which gave me horrendous side effects). Finally got a female GP who was exploring some weird allergies I have had since covid, and she asked why I hadn't been offered tranexemic acid for my anaemia.

Anyway, I can confidently say after three periods taking it that it is actually life-changing. I only have to empty my menstrual cup two times a day, and it only lasts 5 days! I no longer have to plan the first two days of my period around being near a toilet.

Not only that, but I actually have energy to function rather than feeling exhausted.

Honestly, if you have never tried this, I can't recommend it enough.

OP posts:

Drivingish · 20/12/2021 14:15

I didn't realise it helped anaemia but I was prescribed it because I started having the occasional period that gave me such strong pains and nausea I was actually writhing on the floor with someone calling an ambulance for me. Literally worse than when I had dc. After having tranexemic acid I take it when I can feel that coming on and the symptoms go within about an hour, magic stuff.

CherryAndAlmond · 20/12/2021 14:16

Thank you for this. I was prescribed it about a year ago (I have adenomyosis and recurring anaemia) but the first time I took it I was crawling on the floor with cramps worse than labour. It was awful. It did help the bleeding, but I haven't taken it since. Now wondering if I should give it another try, maybe with ibuprofen. I'd love to hear more positive stories if anyone has any.

Cheeseycheeseycheesecheese · 20/12/2021 14:32

Absolute god send for me last year.

I had the coil fitted after having ds, it totally flipped my periods, I bled for 3 weeks not bleed for 1, then bleeding again for 3 weeks. Called Dr's and as we had entered the first lockdown they weren't seeing anyone, local sexual health clinic wouldn't help as I'd only had it a few months. So Dr's proscribed tranexemic acid as a stop gap until I could get it removed. Massively helped with the amount of time I was bleeding, was on a 3 month course before the coil was finally removed.

After having the coil taken out, they did some tests, couldn't explain it, but I also had a similar experience with the implant.

SerfNTerf · 20/12/2021 14:35

Yes!! Though I do wish you could still buy it OTC in Boots instead of having to go through the gatekeeper of a crusty male GP who knows shit-all about periods

Why was it taken off sale and made prescription only, does anyone know?

TheBitchOfTheVicar · 20/12/2021 14:41

I'm glad to hear positive stories but it just did not work for me, unfortunately

hopeishere · 20/12/2021 14:43

Did nothing for me either. But yay for anyone it helps. Bad periods are the worst.

JuergenSchwarzwald · 20/12/2021 14:45

I didn't know that you had to get a prescription again - how annoying, when it's so difficult to get to see or speak to a GP. You'd think the authorities would be weighing up what other medicines to make OTC, rather than restricting them again.

I've not used this but I did use mefanamic acid when I was younger for period pains.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 20/12/2021 14:46

They gave it to me in hospital a few weeks ago when I came in having lost a pint and a half in twelve hours and it seemed to work then but unfortunately it’s not stopping me losing about half a pint a day and I am disappointed, I was hoping for magic!

Fashionesta · 20/12/2021 14:49

I had to stop taking it due to going on HRT. Dr said I should not be on both. Just something to bear in mind. It was great while I was on it though.

Justcannotbearsed · 20/12/2021 14:55

Have you had any investigations? It could be a number of things. With me it was perminopause. Tx acid and I didn't get on - so HRT was a much better option for me. My sister had a Mirena fitted which was life changing.

But might be best to get it investigated if you haven't already as GPs can be reluctant to believe how much blood is lost.

NellyDElephant · 20/12/2021 15:01

It did precisely nothing for me either, I had to have endometrial ablation - now that is/was life-changing! My ‘period’ is present for an hour or two at most and I barely need a pantiliner, nothing short of miraculous IMO.

IShouldProbablyHooverMore · 20/12/2021 15:02

@CherryAndAlmond

I had a similar reaction. Absolutely horrendous cramps, I almost passed out from the pain. I took it for two months, then switched to the mini-pill instead. I really really wanted it to work as I hate being on the pull.

IShouldProbablyHooverMore · 20/12/2021 15:03

*the pill!

GnomeDePlume · 20/12/2021 15:15

Did nothing for me. Eventually the problem was resolved by an endometrial ablation.

Totally get what you are saying about GPs not resolving the problem only trying to half-heartedly resolve the symptom (anaemia). I would say 'heavy periods', GPs only heard 'long periods' and dismissed the problem.

Was quite amused when a separate blood issue meant I got to listen to a hospital nurse practitioner giving my GP an absolute rocket for having let me get so anaemic. I could hear my GP bleating and his feet shuffling on the other end of the phone.

RandomMess · 20/12/2021 15:27

Didn't work for me either as you can only take it for 3 days so day 4 the flooding just reappeared. I had womb ablation as my family was complete - utterly life changing.

Pretty sure you can't take it with ibuprofen though. Best look that up.

RozHuntleysStump · 20/12/2021 15:33

It makes me feel fizzy.

MandyMotherOfBrian · 20/12/2021 15:33

Hmmm, yes I see what you’re saying but I certainly wouldn’t want it to become the case that anyone with heavy periods was prescribed that and then waved goodbye. I had a series of symptoms a couple of years back that could have been peri. Bleeding for weeks on end being one of them. If my GP had just prescribed the TX acid and the bleed had stopped (which he did, and it did) I might have been inclined to assume peri and ignore the rest of the issues assuming that’s just what life as 50 year old was like. Fortunately, he didn’t stop there. He also sent me for other investigations which uncovered an Autoimmune disease and also ovarian cysts that needed monitoring. So TX prescriptions need to go hand in hand with GPs actually listening and investigating the full range of symptoms.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 20/12/2021 15:36

@RandomMess

Didn't work for me either as you can only take it for 3 days so day 4 the flooding just reappeared. I had womb ablation as my family was complete - utterly life changing.

Pretty sure you can't take it with ibuprofen though. Best look that up.

They sent me home from hospital with both (well, an actual packet of txa and instructions to get ibuprofen) so I am sure you can.

NotAtAll · 20/12/2021 15:36

*I had to stop taking it due to going on HRT. Dr said I should not be on both. Just something to bear in mind. It was great while I was on it though.
Interesting. My doctor has just put me back on it as my menorrhagia has returned. I'm on HRT and she said there were no contraindications. I'm on patches, maybe it depends on the type of HRT preparation?

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 20/12/2021 15:39

It’s really great to see all these posts about successful ablations as I was meant to be having one today only it got cancelled, grumble grumble.
I know it’s only about an 80% success rate but still quite exciting to think it really might work. I want my life back!

NewlyJingle2021 · 20/12/2021 15:50

Did nothing for me, but mefenemic acid was a game changer, so anyone else who T acid didn't work for please do keep asking as there are alternatives. Helped insanely heavy periods for 10-12 days drop to around 5-6 and leas heavy. Still annoyingly every 23 days, but after my 2nd covid jab they stayed light without the use of the tablets.

Changemyname18 · 20/12/2021 15:51

I'm afraid I'm another for whom it did nothing, i needed a full hysterectomy to bring an end to my period misery.

RandomMess · 20/12/2021 15:55

Ah yes it's mefenamic acid you shouldn't use with ibuprofen- I tried both of those . I was also referred for and had scans rather than just prescribed drugs. I had a decent GP which I am very grateful for. I too was anaemic due to my heavy bleeding.

Magpiecomplex · 20/12/2021 15:57

Works wonders for me, where mefanamic acid was slightly worse than useless. Took an unfeasible amount of effort to get it put on my repeat prescriptions list, mind you.

coffeeandbiscuit · 20/12/2021 15:59

Yes! It has TRANSFORMED my life. I didn't realise before last year that some women didn't need to use both a tampon and pad, and then, they wouldn't need to change numerous times a day. TA has completely changed my experience of bleeding each month and at long last my iron levels are consistent. That and a diet change that has had some affect on my PMS I feel much more normal before and during. Transformation from last year.

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