What Are the Most Common Side Effects of Tranexamic Acid?

The most common side effects of tranexamic acid include pain such as back aches and headaches as well as nausea and vomiting. Other common side effects from the medication include dizziness and diarrhea. A patient may also feel tired and experience nasal congestion. Severe or serious side effects from the drug are not common but can occur.

Tranexamic acid can be prescribed to treat heavy bleeding. Women who experience heavy bleeding during their periods may take the medication. It's also prescribed to people who have hemophilia and are undergoing a procedure that can result in heavy bleeding, such as getting a tooth removed. Patients with other blood clot disorders may take tranexamic acid to control bleeding during surgery or from nose bleeds.

Digestive problems such as diarrhea are among the most common side effects of tranexamic acid. Some patients will experience pain in the abdomen along with nausea and in some cases vomiting. While these side effects should not be troublesome, if they do not clear up, a patient should tell her doctor about them.

A patient may also experience pain as a side effect of tranexamic acid. Back aches and headaches are common. Some patients may have joint or muscle pain as well. Spasms may occur, and as may cramping. As with the other side effects, a patient should inform her doctor if the pain is prolonged or unbearable.

Some patients experience dizziness when taking tranexamic acid. Others may feel giddy, while some may feel tired. A few patients may have nasal problems as a side effect of tranexamic acid. Some may have sinus pain and congestion.

While severe side effects are extremely rare, they can include chest pain and leg pain, blurred vision, and seizures. Other serious but rare side effects include coughing up blood and fainting. Very few patients may have an allergic reaction to the medication.

Signs of an allergic reaction include trouble breathing and a rash. A patient's face and mouth may swell, and her face may turn red. Extreme feelings of dizziness and itching are other signs of allergic reaction to tranexamic acid. If someone experiences a severe side effect or signs of an allergic reaction, she should call her doctor right away or head to the emergency room.

Before taking the medicine, a patient needs to tell her doctor if she is on another medication that causes blood clots, such as birth control. Some medicines can increase bleeding risk, including many over-the-counter pain pills. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should talk with their doctors before taking tranexamic acid.