Ordinary people and patients with hematological and other blood diseases are often at risk of developing severe or life-threatening bleeding due to low platelet count. 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 with the prophylactic purpose of blood transfusion and blood substitutes in order to prevent bleeding.
These transfusions are not without complications, ranging from a mild reaction in the form of a fever and more serious or even life-threatening consequences, such as infections transmitted to the patient from transfused platelets, despite various compatibility tests. For the treatment of bleeding, Tranexam or Tranexamic acid or the analogue of Tranexam, Aminocaproic acid, is currently widely used.
The use of antifibrinolytics
Obviously, ways to prevent bleeding in patients, as well as minimize the effects of transfused platelets, would be welcome. One of the possible ways to achieve these goals is to use antifibrinolytics known as lysine analogues: Tranexam and Aminocaproic acid. These drugs help stabilize the clots that form after bleeding, which significantly reduces the likelihood of further bleeding, as well as the need for platelet transfusions.
But however, there may be risks associated with the use of these drugs, the most important of which is the increased risk of forming unwanted blood clots and the occurrence of diseases (such as deep vein thrombosis), which can be potentially life-threatening. The use of antifibrinolytics such as the Tranexam drug, the analogues of which are Aminocaproic acid, Dicinon, Etamsylate, and Vikasol, can reduce bleeding and also prevent platelet transfusion.
Need to use
For patients with hematological disorders and bleeding, thrombocytopenia and severe or life-threatening conditions are characteristic. And this despite the use of blood transfusions to prevent bleeding, when the platelet count falls below a certain threshold. But it can be life threatening due to multiple complications.
A possible addition to preventive transfusions is the use of antifibrinolytics, and specifically lysine analogues: Tranexama and Aminocaproic acid.
Tranexam. Instructions for use
Analogs of this acid are anthropogenic forms of the amino acid protein called lysine. These drugs prevent the destruction of blood clots in the body by blocking enzymes. Although Tranexam, its analogues and substitutes are used to treat severe menstrual bleeding, they do not eliminate premenstrual syndrome, but are used to prevent bleeding in people with hemophilia who need to remove a tooth. This medicine is usually given not only before the dental procedure, but also daily up to 8 days after that.
Before using this medication, it is necessary to warn the doctor about the presence of kidney disease, leukemia, endometriosis or if the menstrual 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 for themselves indicate that the bleeding did not become less. Do not use it for longer than 5 days in a row during menstruation. If symptoms do not improve after two cycles of treatment, treatment correction or additional examination is required. Do not take more than 6 tablets per day.
Hormonal contraception (such as birth control pills, injections, implants and vaginal rings) may increase the risk of stroke, thrombosis, or heart attack if they are used at the same time as the Tranex analog. You should not share the drug with another person, even if he has the same symptoms as you. It is also undesirable to use any analog of Tranexam in tablets if you are allergic to the components of the drugs and if you are prone to thrombosis, strokes and heart attacks.
Why are these drugs prescribed
“Tranexamic acid” and the analogue of “Tranexam” - “Aminocaproic acid” are prescribed to stop the bleeding that occurs when blood clots cannot form or are quickly destroyed. This type of bleeding may occur:
- during or after surgery on the heart or liver;
- in people who have certain bleeding disorders;
- with cancer of the prostate gland, lungs, stomach and cervix;
- in pregnant women suffering from premature detachment of a normally located placenta.
"Tranexam", its analogues are also used to stop bleeding in the urinary tract, which can occur after surgery on the prostate or kidney, 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 Tranexam? Analogs are cheaper and more affordable - this is “Aminocaproic acid”, “Dicinon”, “Ethamsylate”. Namely, “Aminocaproic acid” is in the class of medicines called hemostatic drugs, and acts in the same way as “Tranexam”, that is, it works to slow down the cleavage of the thrombus.
How should this medicine be used?
"Aminocaproic acid" is made in the form of tablets and solutions (liquid) for oral administration. Usually, 5 g is initially taken at the same time, and then once per hour, 1 g for 8 hours or until the bleeding stops. When Aminocaproic Acid is used to treat ongoing bleeding, it is usually taken every 3-6 hours. Do not take the drug more or less or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
It is necessary to shake the bottle before each use in order to mix the drug well. The doctor can 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 eye hemorrhage caused by trauma. This medicine may be prescribed for other purposes.
Precautionary measures
In some conditions and diseases, the use of drugs is contraindicated. This is in cases where there is:
- allergy to “Aminocaproic acid” or any other medicines;
- the patient takes factor IX, factor IX complex or anticoagulant complex;
- tendency to thrombosis;
- the presence of pregnancy, the patient plans to become pregnant or breastfeed.
What to do if you missed the drug
In this case, you need to take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue the regular dosing regimen. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed one.
What are the side effects?
“Aminocaproic acid” can also cause side effects. It:
- nausea;
- vomiting
- abdominal pain or cramping;
- diarrhea;
- black, tarry stools;
- bleeding from the gums;
- headache;
- dizziness;
- confusion of consciousness;
- hallucinations;
- swelling of the hands, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs;
- blurred or blurred vision;
- tinnitus.
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, you must urgently stop taking the drug:
- rash;
- itching
- difficulty breathing or swallowing;
- muscle weakness;
- fatigue;
- dyspnea;
- pressing or compressing chest pain;
- discomfort in the hands, shoulders, neck or upper back;
- excessive sweating;
- a feeling of heaviness, pain, warmth and / or swelling in the legs or pelvis;
- sudden tingling, cold in the arms or legs;
- difficulties with speech;
- sudden drowsiness
- sudden weakness or numbness of the arms or legs;
- rapid breathing;
- sharp pain with a deep breath;
- increased or slowed heartbeat;
- coughing up blood;
- rust-colored urine;
- decrease in the amount of urine;
- fainting
- cramps.
Such side effects can also cause Tranexam. Similar tablets "Aminocaproic acid" can also lead to such complications. Some patients may experience side effects that usually do not require medical attention. They may disappear during treatment. Your doctor should warn you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Incompatibility and treatment control
The drug is incompatible with penicillin, tetracycline antibiotics, erythromass, antihypertensive drugs, Diazepam, Dipyridamole. With simultaneous use with hemostatic drugs , the effect of thrombosis is potentiated.
It is very important to control the blood coagulation process while taking the drug. For this, it is necessary to take blood tests to see that the medicine is working properly and there are no undesirable effects.