ANTIFIBRINOLYTIC AGENTS

Brand & Generic Names

Amicar
AMINOCAPROIC ACID
Cyclokapron
TRANEXAMIC ACID

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? Yes
• Drug class: Antifibrinolytic, antihemorrhagic

Uses

• Treats serious bleeding, especially occurring after surgery, dental or otherwise.
• Sometimes used before surgery in hopes of preventing excessive bleeding in patients with disorders that increase the chance of serious bleeding.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablet--Swallow with liquid or food to lessen stomach irritation. If you can't swallow whole, crumble tablet and take with liquid or food.
Syrup--Take as directed on label.

When to take:
As directed by your doctor.

If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember. Don't double this dose.

What drug does:
Inhibits activation of plasminogen to cause blood clots to disintegrate.

Time lapse before drug works:
Within 2 hours.

Don't take with:
Thrombolytic chemicals such as streptokinase, urokinase.
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
None expected for oral forms. Injectable forms may cause drop in blood pressure or slow heartbeat.

WHAT TO DO:

Follow doctor's instructions.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

Shortness of breath, Seek emergency treatment. slurred speech, leg or arm numbness.

Common:

Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, severe menstrual cramps.

Infrequent:

Dizziness; headache; muscular pain and weakness; red eyes; ringing in ears; skin rash; abdominal pain; stuffy nose; decreased urine; swelling of feet, face, legs; rapid weight gain.

Rare:

• Unusual tiredness, blurred vision, clotting of menstrual flow.
• Signs of thrombosis (sudden, severe headache; pains in chest, groin or legs; loss of coordin- ation; shortness of breath; slurred speech; vision changes; weakness or numbness in arms or leg).

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:

• You are allergic to aminocaproic acid or tranexamic acid.
• You have a diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have heart disease.
• If you have bleeding from the kidney.
• If you have had impaired liver function.
• If you have had kidney disease or urination difficulty.
• If you have blood clots in parts of the body.

Over age 60:
No changes from other age groups expected.

Pregnancy:
Animal studies show fetal abnormalities. Decide with your doctor whether drug benefits justify risk to unborn child.

Breast-feeding:
No problems documented. Consult doctor.

Infants & children:
Use for children only under doctor's supervision.

Prolonged use:
Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical examinations or laboratory studies to check eyes.

Skin & sunlight:
No problems expected.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
Don't drive or pilot aircraft until you learn how medicine affects you. Don't work around dangerous machinery. Don't climb ladders or work in high places. Danger increases if you drink alcohol or take medicine affecting alertness and reflexes, such as antihistamines, tranquilizers, sedatives, pain medicine, narcotics and mind-altering drugs.

Discontinuing:
Don't discontinue without consulting doctor. Dose may require gradual reduction if you have taken drug for a long time. Doses of other drugs may also require adjustment.

Others:

• Should not be used in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation.
• Have eyes checked frequently.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Contraceptives,	Increased possibility
oral*	of blood clotting.
Estrogens*	Increased possibility of blood
	clotting.
Thrombolytic	Decreased effects of
agents*	both drugs.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	Decreases effectiveness of
	thrombolytic agents.
Beverages:	No problems expected.
Cocaine:	Combined effect unknown. Avoid.
Foods:	No problems expected.
Marijuana:	Combined effect unknown. Avoid.
Tobacco:	Combined effect unknown. Avoid.