Tranexamic acid - scared to use

[LostittoBostik]

I've been suffering from very heavy periods for the last couple of years which, for a couple of days a month, are making life very difficult to manage. I finally had an ultrasound and they found a fibroid and a polyp. I'm now on a long waiting list to see gynae about removal.
In the meantime my GP has prescribed iron supplements and tranexamic acid to help as I'm feeling totally worn out. My period are also every three weeks so I feel like I get no respite.
But alongside all this I suffer with health anxiety and now I've seen there are side effects to TA and some of them are serious as pulmonary embolism and stroke I don't know if I dare take it.
Does anyone know what the actual statistical risk level?
Is this pill working for people?

I’d not be able to leave the house without Tranexemic. It’s a total game changer for me.
Risk of extreme side effects is very, very low. When my health anxiety was at an all time high, the pharmacist explained tranexemic was one of the lowest risk medications routinely prescribed - if taken correctly of course.

Your doctor has prescribed this medication so they must think it’s a low risk situation for you? TA is a marvel. Your bleeding will reduce dramatically.

Another TXA success story here - I only took it for a few months but it made such a difference.

My periods were so heavy I'd come through largest size tampon and maternity night time pad in 20 minutes. I'd stand up and blood would gush down my legs. I worried about sitting in a chair then having to stand up at work. Those drugs prescribed to you by your GP helped slow down the flow. They really helped me a lot. I'd take them OP. I never had any side effects with them. Why are you afraid to take them?

My 12 year old takes it, along with well teen vitamins. She's less dizzy and tired and the flow is more manageable. You may be surprised at how much better you feel once you start. Aneamia is a horrible thing even if you are only borderline on iron levels

It worked on and off for me. I couldn’t leave the house or walk really without it. It never worked like the dr told me- she said it would stop it, but it made it more like a regular period. I had zero side effects. Thankfully now I’ve gotten older again I’m no longer relying on them.

They help. I think you can still donate blood while on them, so they can't be too risky.

I've been taking it for two months and it's been a bloody marvel (excuse the pun). I now use 2 light tampons a day instead of 1 extra super heavy plus plus (or whatever embarrassing name they call them) an hour. TA in combo with iron supplements has also made my ferritin go from 29 to 47 in 2 months. Feel so much better.

I didn't get on with it - not awful side effects but I just felt drunk and groggy
But I stopped it and felt fine straight away so would definitely say try them to anyone

I was on TXA for weeks at a time earlier this year and I'm in my 60s. It was fine. Perfectly safe for what you'd be doing and may massively increase your quality of life.

They haven't helped me really but I didn't have any side effects.

I agree with PP's you've been prescribed it so any risk has been assessed by the Doctor. Give them a go.

Prior to having these tablets I'd have to return home within five minutes to get changed or wear long jumpers to tie around my waist. It really was an awful way to live, plus I was constantly anaemic.

They were a life saver for me. No side effects at all.

I was fine on them.

Also you are focusing only on the risk associated with taking them. You need to balance these risks with the risks involved with doing nothing. The risk of you fainting due to anaemia, falling, banging your head and doing serious harm, for example, is presumably much higher if you don’t take them. There are risks on both sides. None of them are definite. The doctor has weighed up these risks, as that is what they do, and decided that in your case the benefits of taking them (which includes a reduction in risk from other things) outweigh the risks.

If you look at the list of side effects for paracetamol or the pill you’ll find some scary side effects too. There are risks to everything in life including doing nothing at all, ever!

I was nervous too but was bleeding through the biggest tampons you can buy (Lillets Ultra) in less than half an hour and passing clots the size of my palm. Tranexamic Acid stopped the clots and allowed me to go for couple of hours between changes which mean I could leave the house / go to work. I had no choice but to take it.

I take it for period purposes, three times a day for the first three days. I've been on it for about 4 years now. I too have fibroids. Without it I wouldn't be able to leave the house for the first three days of my period as I'd need to be near a toilet to deal with the mess. Honestly it's a game changer. No side effects whatsoever. It reduced my period anxiety massively.

Absolute game changer for me - if I don’t take it, my periods are heavy and painful. With the tablets, they are light and very minimal pain and I almost forget I’m having a period because I can put in a mooncup and a small pad and forget about it for hours.