Anyone been given transexamic acid and Dianette?

Cathy75 · 08-28-2003, 11:15 AM

This is such a great site! I was wondering whether anyone has been given similar advice as I have about Dianette?

A couple of months ago a saw my gynae who prescribed Dianette. I had some side effects- nausea etc, but worst of all bleeding that in the end continued for 6 weeks. This wasn't break through bleeding, it was the heaviest bleeding I've ever had (and it is usually heavy!) I was back and forth to my gp (having no luck with my attempts to speak to the gynaecologist!) I was advised at one stage that I was bleeding so much that if I felt dizzy I should call an ambulence due to a danger of hypoglaecemia.

The only thing that finally stopped the bleeding was a full dosage of transexamic acid (Cyclokapron), two tablets 4 times a day. My GP thought that Dianette simply doesn't agree with me and advised me not to start a second cycle of it.

When next appointment with the gynae came along I was told that one cycle simply wasn't long enough to know dianette wasn't going to work for me. I was given more diannete and told to take it for three months whatever the side effects, plus a prescription of transexamic acid to stop any irregular bleeding. The gynae didn't seem to get the point that the bleeding I had wasn't just breakthrough spotting. The idea is that I should get used to the Dianette by the third month.

I'm a week and a half into my Dianette and am bleeding despite a full dosage of transexamic acid. I was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience, has taken transexamic acid and how they found the treatment? It's taken me some time to convince my gp to refer me to a gynaecologist, my attempts to address my PCOS seems to bring more not less problems!

Thanks!

Cathy

nellie · 08-29-2003, 05:59 PM

hi there. i was firstly put on tranexamic acid to stop my periods coz, like you, i was lasting 6 weeks. the first month or so, it worked for me. within 3 days the bleeding had stopped completely. but then one month, it didn't work. i had my period for 11 weeks. if you see my previous post in "do you have a problem" i go into details about having to go to hospital etc. i am now on dianette too. the gyn at hospital told me the doc was right in giving me tranexamic acid, but he should have also given me hormones, as the imbalance was stopping the tranexamic acid from working properly. i was given progesterone, to take for 21 days, along with dianette and tranexamic acid. my period stopped within a day. i came off tranexamic acid (until the next period) and i am continuing with the dianette and progesterone (for the 21 days, until i see my gyn again).

hope this helps. keep in mind though that this may have been just my body and how i reacted to the pills. tranexamic acid may just not work for you. you are better to speak to a gyn who knows a lot more than a gp.

Eva35 · 08-30-2003, 07:01 PM

Hi

WEll, I tried transexamic acid for the periods, and was in such pain that I stopped taking it! My af was worse than ever

Eva

Cathy75 · 09-01-2003, 06:36 AM

Hi

Thanks for your replies. Nellie your experience sounds awful, have you found your GP more helpful since your treatment in hospital? I hope so.

Tranexamic acid seems to be becoming less and less effective, and my next appointment with the gyn isn't until October. I've tried getting in for earlier appointments before and it is a fruitless exercise, they just tell you to see your GP. I've had long bleeds before, but nothing like the one I had when I started taking Dianette which I am sure is the cause of the problem! I was talked into taking it by the gyn; they seem so convinced that its brilliant... I wonder if they are given commission for prescribing it?!

However, I think I might go and ask my gp about the progesterone. When I went to see the gyn I was a doctor in the department, rather than the consultant and she seemed a bit stumped when I told her about my bleeding and everything else, so she might not have really considered the need for progesterone. Before my GP gave me transexamic acid for the first time, I was given Northiserone to try. Is this the progesterone your taking Nellie? If so I don't know whether I want it because it made my hairiness ten times worse (like the hair was growing so fast, you could almost see it moving!)

The most frustrating part of all of this is not necessarily the bleeding, or any of my other PCOS symptoms, but the medical professions obvious lack of knowledge and appreciation of what it's like to suffer from PCOS symptoms. I moving from Sheffield to Hull soon, and I'm finding the process of finding a new GP a little daunting, I'd like to interview them about their knowledge of PCOS first!

Thanks

Cathy

Hazel 36 · 09-16-2003, 08:31 AM

Hi Cathy

I was on Dianette for a couple of years and although I have always had very heavy bleeding I had real problems with it while on the Dianette. I never made any connection with it! I was given tranexamic acid, which did reduce the bleeding sometimes. I also tried norethisterone, but that made me sick as a dog! There was one time that I passed such a huge clot they suspected miscarriage!!! I wasnt pg, it was just mega blood loss.

Interestingly, now I think back....as soon as I stopped Dianette last Oct to ttc the 3 periods that I had were relatively light (for me!) and I hardly took any tranexamic acid. Must have been the Dianette causing the problems.

Since then, I have had my daughter 13 weeks early due to pre-eclampsia and sadly lost her when she was 27 days old. I had my 6 week check last week and have been told I cannot take Dianette now as my blood pressure is still very high even on medication. I have been given a mini-pill, femulen, and Im still waiting for my periods to start up again. It will be interesting to see whether I have the heavy bleeding any more. Will report back.

Sue

seska · 09-27-2003, 10:24 PM

hi

i have tranexamic acid and mefanamic acid for during my periods (which can last weeks and are extremely heavy) i couldnt do without the tranexamic acid now to be honest!

take care,

love seska x

Hazel 36 · 10-22-2003, 02:38 PM

Hi...I said I would report back when af returned...... 2nd time af has arrived now...always regular as clockwork! No Dianette now due to BP probs since pre-eclampsia. On Femulen now, and have not had to take any tranexamic acid at all. Two theories here...one is no Dianette, 2nd is having had a baby. I feel much better in myself despite missing Ellie, so I suspect the being preg may have sorted out my hormones. Is it temporary? I don't know! Will update further.
Sue