Ordinary people and patients with hematological and other blood disorders are often at risk of severe or life-threatening bleeding due to low platelets. This may be not only due to the underlying blood disease, but also from the toxic effect in the bone marrow after treatment. Such patients are prescribed prophylactic blood transfusions and blood substitutes to prevent bleeding.
These transfusions are not without complications, ranging from a mild reaction in the form of fever to more serious or even life-threatening consequences, such as infections transmitted to the patient from the transfused platelets, despite various compatibility tests. For the treatment of bleeding, Tranexam or Tranexamic Acid or an analogue of Tranexam - Aminocaproic Acid is currently widely used.
Use of antifibrinolytics
Clearly, ways to prevent bleeding in patients and also minimize exposure to transfused platelets would be welcome. One of the possible ways to achieve these goals is the use of antifibrinolytics known as lysine analogues: "Tranexam" and "Aminocaproic acid". These drugs helpstabilize clots that form after bleeding, greatly reducing the chance of further bleeding as well as the need for platelet transfusions.
However, there may be risks associated with the use of these drugs, the most important of which is an increased risk of unwanted blood clots and diseases (such as deep vein thrombosis) that can be potentially life-threatening. The use of antifibrinolytics such as Traneksam, whose analogues are Aminocaproic Acid, Dicinon, Etamzilat, Vikasol, can reduce bleeding and also prevent platelet transfusion.
Need to use
For patients with hematological disorders and bleeding, the development of thrombocytopenia and severe or life-threatening conditions is common. This is despite the use of blood transfusions to prevent bleeding when platelet counts fall below a certain threshold. But it can be life-threatening due to multiple complications.
A possible addition to prophylactic transfusions is the use of antifibrinolytics, and specifically lysine analogues: Tranexam and Aminocaproic acid.
Tranexam. Instructions for use
Analogues of this acid are man-made forms of the amino acid protein called lysine. These drugs prevent the destruction of blood clots in the body by blocking enzymes. Although the drug "Tranexam", analogues andsubstitutes for it are used to treat heavy menstrual bleeding, but they do not eliminate premenstrual syndrome, but are used to prevent bleeding in people with hemophilia who need to have a tooth removed. This medicine is usually given not only before a dental procedure, but also daily for up to 8 days thereafter.
Alert your doctor before using this medicine if you have kidney disease, leukemia, endometriosis, or if your cycles are less than 21 days or longer than 35 days.
You should not start taking Tranexam analogs before menstruation. Reviews of patients who independently prescribed these drugs to themselves indicate that the bleeding did not decrease. Do not use it for more than 5 consecutive days during your period. If symptoms do not improve after two cycles of treatment, a treatment adjustment or additional examination is required. Do not exceed 6 tablets per day.
Hormonal contraception (eg, birth control pills, injections, implants, and vaginal rings) may increase the risk of stroke, blood clots, or heart attack if used at the same time as the Tranexam alternative. Do not share this medicine with another person, even if they have the same symptoms as you. It is also undesirable to use any analogue of Traneksam in tablets if you are allergic to the components of the drugs and if you are prone to thrombosis, strokes and heart attacks.
Why these drugs are prescribed
"Tranexamacid" and the analogue of "Tranexam" - "Aminocaproic acid" is prescribed to stop bleeding, which occurs when blood clots cannot form or are quickly destroyed. This type of bleeding may occur:
- during or after heart or liver surgery;
- in people who have certain bleeding disorders;
- for cancer of the prostate, lung, stomach and cervix;
- in pregnant women suffering from premature detachment of a normally located placenta.
Tranexam analogues are also used to stop bleeding in the urinary tract, which can occur after prostate or kidney surgery, or in people who have certain types of cancer. These drugs should not be used to treat bleeding in disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome. What can replace "Traneksam"? Analogues are cheaper and more accessible - these are Aminocaproic acid, Dicinon, Etamzilat. It is "Aminocaproic acid" that is in the class of drugs called hemostatics, and acts in the same way as "Tranexam", that is, it works by slowing down the splitting of a blood clot.
How this medicine should be used
"Aminocaproic acid" is made in the form of tablets and solutions (liquids) for oral administration. Usually take initially 5 g at a time, and then once an hour for 1 g for 8 hours or until the bleeding does notwill stop. When "Aminocaproic Acid" is used to treat ongoing bleeding, it is usually taken every 3 to 6 hours. Do not take the drug more or less, or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Shake the bottle before each use to mix the drug well. The doctor may prescribe high doses of aminocaproic acid - up to 24 g per day and gradually reduce the dose until the bleeding stops completely."Tranexam", an analogue of its "Aminocaproic acid" is also sometimes used to treat hemorrhage in the eye, which was caused by trauma. This medicine may be prescribed for other uses.
Precautions
In some conditions and diseases, taking drugs is contraindicated. This is where available:
- allergic to "Aminocaproic Acid" or any other drugs;
- patient taking factor IX, factor IX complex or anticoagulant complex;
- prone to thrombosis;
- pregnancy, the patient plans to become pregnant or is breastfeeding.
What to do if you miss your medication
In this case, you need to take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing regimen. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
What are the side effects
"Aminocaproic acid" can also cause side effects. This is:
- nausea;
- vomit;
- abdominal pain or cramps;
- diarrhea;
- black, tarry chair;
- bleeding gums;
- headache;
- dizziness;
- confusion;
- hallucinations;
- swelling of arms, hands, legs, ankles or shins;
- impaired or blurred vision;
- ringing in the ears.
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, stop taking the drug immediately:
- rash;
- itch;
- difficulty breathing or swallowing;
- muscle weakness;
- fatigue;
- shortness of breath;
- pressive or squeezing chest pain;
- discomfort in the hands, shoulders, neck or upper back;
- excessive sweating;
- feeling of heaviness, pain, warmth and/or swelling in the legs or pelvis;
- sudden tingling, coldness in hands or feet;
- difficulty speaking;
- sudden sleepiness;
- sudden weakness or numbness of arms or legs;
- rapid breathing;
- sharp pain when taking a deep breath;
- increase or slow heart rate;
- coughing up blood;
- rust-coloured urine;
- reducing the amount of urine;
- fainting;
- convulsions.
Tranexam can also cause such side effects. Similar tablets "Aminocaproic acid"can also lead to complications. Some patients may experience side effects that usually do not require medical attention. They may disappear during treatment. Your doctor should advise you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Incompatibility and treatment control
The drug is incompatible with antibiotics of the penicillin, tetracycline series, erythromass, antihypertensive drugs, Diazepam, Dipyridamole. With simultaneous use with hemostatic drugs, the effect of thrombus formation is potentiated.
It is very important to control the process of blood clotting while taking the drug. This requires blood tests to be done to see if the medicine is working properly and there are no unwanted effects.
