As a parent or caregiver of a tween or teen, making sure their bleeding disorders treatment is keeping up with their activities and growing independence is top of mind. You may have questions about the different types of treatment options for your child. This section has answers to common questions about antifibrinolytics. There are several different products available. This section can help you develop your own set of questions to ask your child’s health care provider to find the best treatment option.
Antifibrinolytics can be used to treat mouth and nose bleeds, as well as heavy and long-lasting periods (heavy menstrual bleeding). It is often an extra medication used for specific situations on top of your child’s regular preventative treatment.1 For example, your child’s health care provider may recommend using it before your child needs major dental work.
Antifibrinolytics are a category of medications that help blood clot by preventing the clot from breaking down before the body has had time to heal. More technically, they prevent fibrinolysis, meaning they ensure fibrin doesn’t breakdown. Fibrin is one of the main proteins needed to make blood clot.
So really the name “antifibrinolytics” says it all. “Anti” is against; “fibrin” is the protein needed to make blood clots; and “lytics” means related to “lysis” which is breaking down. Put it all together and these medications work against fibrin being broken down to make sure the blood clots.
Antifibrinolytics are given by mouth as a tablet or syrup. It can also be given into a vein (intravenous or “IV”) which may happen for medical procedures.1
The dosage depends on many things including weight, diagnosis, and where and how badly you are bleeding. Your health care provider will determine the correct dose of this medication.
Antifibrinolytics can be used in people who have a diagnosis of hemophilia A, hemophilia B, von Willebrand Disease (VWD), and some ultra-rare bleeding disorders. Speak with your child’s healthcare provider about how your child’s age may impact use for certain antifibrinolytics (see full list of product names in the What are the other names for this treatment? section below).
Some benefits of taking antifibrinolytics include:t are the other names for this treatm
- Prevents the breakdown of clots.
- Can be taken in tablet or syrup form.
- Can be used for people with the potential to menstruate who have multiple types of bleeding disorders.
Some of the limitations of taking antifibrinolytics include:
- Works for short time and only for specific bleeding (mouth, nose, menstrual).
- Not for ongoing prevention.
- May need dose of other treatment option before using an antifibrinolytic.
- May not be able to use with certain other treatments1.
Other names for antifibrinolytics are:
Aminocaproic acid
- Amicar®
Tranexamic acid
- Lysteda®
- Cyklokapron®
If you want more information about FDA-approved products for the treatment of bleeding disorders, please go to Products Licensed in the US.
- NBDF's Medical and Scientific Advisory Council. (2022). MASAC Recommendations Concerning Products Licensed for the Treatment of Hemophilia and Other Bleeding Disorders (MASAC 272). National Bleeding Disorders Foundation. https://www.hemophilia.org/healthcare-professionals/guidelines-on-care/masac-documents/masac-document-272-masac-recommendations-concerning-products-licensed-for-the-treatment-of-hemophilia-and-other-bleeding-disorders