Experiences of taking tranexamic acid?

[Eileen101]

I have iron deficiency anaemia and have been prescribed tranexamic acid alongside iron tablets.
I haven't taken the trade acid yet because despite reading about it, I don't really understand it. I have read that ot strengthens blood clots/reduces menstrual blood, but I don't understand... surely the blood that's in there has to come out somehow...? Is it just going to mean a lighter but longer period?
I was going to ask my doctor when the pharmacist raised a query on the dose of my iron tablets, but she didn't call back, just reissued the prescription.

Can anyone with a better understanding of science please help me to understand how it is going to help me recover from the anaemia?

All I know is that you won't bleed.

I've had to take it several times. My teenager daughter has been prescribed it on standby for holidays in case her period comes unexpectedly.

On Casualty you'll often hear them shout for TXA in a trauma situation.

My doctor told me not to ask how it works (I'm a bugger for wanting all info!) as he doesn't know and told me to Google 🤣.

I have seen it falsely reported on here that because it clots the blood then it actually makes periods worse due to losing blood clots.
Nonsense.
I have a thread in Cancer at the moment after months of suffering with huge and heavy bleeding and clot losses. I was scanned yesterday, put on the 2 week pathway for MRI, hysteroscopy (?), and Biopsy. I've been given TXA and a high dose of progesterone to see me through.
Had phone call today and MRI is tomorrow!!

So, I'm no help whatsoever, I'm not sure any lay person would be.
I don't particularly like taking them though because of their size, the amount you have to take and I swear they taste coppery.
Better than passing out and blood transfusion though!

I take it, for adenomyosis. It cuts my 2.5 week periods down to 4 or 5 days.

It doesn't stop the full shedding of the lining, but means that that blood clots don't break down as much, so you don't lose as much blood. In effect, you get bigger clots, and the endometrium doesn't bleed as much.

It's the surface area to volume ratio that matters.

I’ve taken them for heavy periods, when mine first came back postpartum they were awful.
I found I didn’t need to take as many as my prescription said, if i recall correctly it said two tablets 3 times a day but I found two tablets twice on day two of my period drastically reduced the bleeding.
After a couple of months things settled so I’ve not needed them since.

It will definitely help with anaemia because you won't be losing blood through a period.

Women don't actually need to bleed every month. There are hormones and hormonal contraceptives that will prevent this.
I assume that you're not exploring that route.
How long have you been told to take it for? When is your next blood test?

Sort of like, if you eat a big cube of chocolate, it's gone quickly, where as if you chop it up into small pieces and eat each one individually, it takes a long time.

By the big clots not breaking up, the endometrium has less time, and less volume to break down, so less bleeding.

Sorry, I'm banging on,

But there are medications to prevent a period. TXA is to stop bleeding that is already happening.
I'd call your GP if I were you.

Cool- knowledgeable people above.

I'm shutting gob 😁

It didn’t do much for me unfortunately. I also suffered from severe iron deficiency anemia due to incredibly heavy periods for years. Tranexamic acid only slightly lessened the flow but didn’t make very much difference. Mirena coil was the thing that stopped the periods completely and I’m now healthy again, having lost years with a knackered immune system, zero energy, constantly ill and stressed, anxious. I’m a different person now I feel like I have my life back and my body can fight off minor illnesses.

It helps blood to clot and so reduces bleeding.

there are different mechanisms by which women can end up with heavy periods. A period essentially creates a wound in the uterus - the lining sheds off, leaving 'raw' surface and blood vessels. Those blood vessels usually constrict and clots form at the open surface and that stops fresh blood flowing into the uterine cavity. It's more common in women with heavy periods to have higher levels of a tissue factor that reduces clot stability, therefore meaning that more blood gets out through those vessels. Tranexamic acid helps to stabilise the clots formed a the surface and should reduce bleeding. It doesn't stop a period completely, but should reduce blood loss. I suspect that for women who get disappointingly bigger clots, it's because it stabilises what's already in the uterine cavity so it comes out more solid than liquid.

Did nothing for me, hysterectomy was ultimately the only option for one huge fibroid!

Maybe it doesn't work so well for fibroids. I get a few days of relief before the bleeding comes back with a vengeance

This is exactly my experience, lightens the flow but them comes back with flooding, huge unpredictable clots. I also have a fibroid (submucosal)

Not to derail the threads ladies but can you take trans acid when you are on long term blood thinners (edoxaban)???
I have AF post ICU complications although always suffered from heart rate problems and started with erratic and heavy periods and I'm planning to ask the GP about this?