Tranexamic Acid for heavy periods advice

[Username9898]

Hi all. I have an event coming up which clashes with the WORST 1-2 of my period. I have got some tranexamic acid and I want to o ow what to expect? What are people’s experiences in terms of how it works, when to start taking it etc etc? If relevant I’m early 40s and I think heading into perimenopause. Thanks!

I would start taking it at soon as your period starts, that’s when it works best for me. Once it’s well underway it doesn’t seem to do a lot.

I took it for fibroid related bleeding. I would start on day 2 as that's when it got heavier for me and it was amazing. Made such a difference.

Also used it for fibroid related heavy bleeding. took it for the first days of my period and it definitely helped. Used to give me a slight headache but it was a small price to pay compared to daily flooding!

I take it when I first start bleeding then 3x a day for no more than 3 days. I notice a reduction in bleeding after a few hours if I forget to take it until after my period is properly started. I find it really helpful and it makes my periods much more manageable.

Has anyone else found that this creates large clots? I passed two huge clots of blood after taking just one of these tablets to control my heavy bleeding

I have just started on it a few months ago so still getting used to it. I get cramps the day before I’m due on so was advised to take when I got the cramps. My periods were always extremely heavy for the first 2-3 days but after taking tranexamic it seems to have “lightened” my periods quite a bit. I have only been on them a few months though so can’t say how it will be in the long run.

That’s precisely how the medication works, it prevents the breakdown of blood clots to help control continuous bleeding. So that’s not unusual.

I take it as soon as I know I’m starting. If I don’t take in time, it has limited effect. Yes to occasionally big clots - but you know they’re coming because it’s similar to labour pains .

I take 2, 3 times per day as soon as it moves out of the spotting light type phase. If I don't, then a couple of hours or so later and it gets increasingly heavy. Once I've taken them then it reduces again. Best thing ever, and they do make a massive difference

I’ve been taking this every month for a long time now. I find it makes my period much more manageable.

I generally start my period with a few days of brown ‘discharge’. I only take the TA when my really heavy bleeding starts.
it sounds like I should be taking it at the very start of the ‘discharge’ days… have I been doing it wrong all this time?!

@Chimcharyou could experiment, maybe start on day 2?

My periods were heavy for a minimum of 7 days and although TA helped it just meant intense flooding after the 3 days of TA 😭

Prepare for dry skin, it does dry you out a bit. It was used to save the lives of soldiers in WW1, a long history so very safe to use xx

I missed the odd dose and I found that you can pretty much just take as and when. So, miss a dose it starts to get heavy. Take it and it lightens. I checked with my GP and they said that you take it as you need it so that was fine. Personally I have no side effects at all and I don't have to worry about getting it right it's just if I miss a dose the bleeding gets heavy.

I used to use it and similar to other posters, I always felt a bit 'full' like bloated but it did ease the bleeding.... But going on the mini pill and stopping the bastard periods altogether has been life changing! Would highly recommend if you are able!

TA absolutely changed my DW’s life (and therefore positively affected mine too ☺️) during perimenopause.
The flooding was like nothing I had ever seen.

Do take it, it’s a miracle.

Thank you so much everyone! This has given me so much hope that I might not ruin my wedding outfit…!! I will start taking when my period gets ‘real’ and it will hopefully save me. I really appreciate all them help 😀

That’s what I’m worried about if i start too soon… it’ll just catch up with me and then I’ll be caught out. Thanks for replying. I appreciate your response.

@Username9898It really does work. It takes about 2 hours to kick in for me on my heaviest days. Then I take it every 6 -7 hours (no more than 3 doses in 24 hours) throughout the day. keep an eye on the time and take it anyway, even if your bleeding is still very light. I find that if I don’t take it, the bleeding starts ramping up again and then I have to wait the two hours or so until it starts working again.
it can leave you feeling a bit ‘spacey’ but I find that wears off fairly soon.

good luck!

It works wonders for me. It has a short term affect, so don't forget to take the next dose.

I took norethistorone to stop my incredibly heavy and long bleeding for a wedding to totally remove the risk. I appreciate some people don't like it or want to do that, but honesty it was great.

I also took a short course to stop the bleeding after about a month solid to try and reset and get some iron into me