Tranexamic Acid

Tranexamic acid In Dogs & Cats: Uses, Dosage and Side Effects

Overview

• Synthetic lysine analogue called tranexamic acid.
• Binds reversibly to lysine binding sites of plasminogen.
• Prevents plasmin action on fibrin, delaying fibrin dissolution and reducing bleeding.
• Useful in patients with hyperfibrinolytic conditions and certain coagulopathies.
• Works by interrupting fibrinolysis.

Uses of Tranexamic acid

• Recommended for treating bleeding tendencies, especially when hyperfibrinolysis is a significant factor.
• Tranexamic acid is proposed as adjunctive therapy for dogs with angiostrongylosis, splenic hemangiosarcoma, and trauma.

Dose of Tranexamic acid in Dogs and Cats

Dogs:

• 15–20 mg/kg p.o. q8h; 10 mg/kg i.v. q8h slow i.v. infusion.

Cats:

• Use is not reported in cats.

Side Effects of Tranexamic acid in Dogs and Cats

• Common adverse reactions in dogs include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, often dose-dependent.
• Prolonged treatment at higher doses in dogs and cats may lead to retinal changes.
• Reported adverse effects in humans include hypersensitivities, dizziness, visual disturbances, and thromboses.

Contraindications of Tranexamic acid in Dogs and Cats

• Tranexamic acid should not be administered to animals with a history or increased risk of thrombosis, such as thromboembolism.
• Disorders affecting renal parenchyma causing hematuria are a contraindication for tranexamic acid use in humans; caution is advised when considering its use in such cases.

Some Notes:

• No studies examining interactions between tranexamic acid and other drugs have been conducted.
• Potential drug interactions, including those leading to myocardial infarction, might occur when tranexamic acid is coadministered with hormonal contraceptives, hydrochlorothiazide, desmopressin, sulbactam-ampicillin, ranitidine, or nitroglycerin.