Amicar

Brand Names

Amicar

What is Amicar

Amicar (aminocaproic acid) is a man-made form of a protein that occurs naturally in the body and helps the blood clot. It belongs to a class of medications called hemostatics. It works by slowing the breakdown of blood clots.

Amicar is intended to treat bleeding episodes in people with certain medical conditions such as aplastic anemia (lack of blood cells and platelets), cirrhosis of the liver, placenta abruptio (early separation of the placenta in pregnancy), urinary bleeding, and certain types of cancer. In some cases, this medication can also be used to prevent bleeding after heart surgery or placement of a shunt near the liver to control high blood pressure.

Side effects of Amicar

Amicar common side effects may include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• stomach pain or cramping
• diarrhea
• headache
• dizziness
• confusion
• hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
• swelling of the arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• decreased or blurred vision
• ringing in the ears

If you have noticed any of these serious side effects, inform your doctor at once:

• hives
• rash
• itching
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• muscle weakness
• fatigue
• shortness of breath
• chest pressure or squeezing pain in chest
• discomfort in arms, shoulders, neck or upper back
• excessive sweating
• feeling of heaviness, pain, warmth and/or swelling in a leg or in the pelvis
• sudden tingling or coldness in an arm or leg
• sudden slow or difficult speech
• sudden drowsiness or need to sleep
• sudden weakness or numbness of an arm or leg
• fast breathing
• sharp pain when taking a deep breath
• fast or slow heartbeat
• coughing up blood
• rust colored urine
• decreased amount of urine
• fainting
• seizures

Indication

Amicar is intended to control bleeding that occurs when blood clots are broken down too quickly. This type of bleeding may occur during or after heart or liver surgery; in people who have certain bleeding disorders; in people who have cancer of the prostate (a male reproductive gland), lung, stomach, or cervix (opening of the uterus); and in pregnant women experiencing placental abruption (placenta separates from the uterus before the baby is ready to be born). It is also used to control bleeding in the urinary tract (the organs in the body that produce and excrete urine) that may occur after prostate or kidney surgery or in people who have certain types of cancer.

You have to know that amicar should not be used to treat bleeding that is not caused by faster than normal clot breakdown, so your doctor may order tests to find the cause of your bleeding before you begin your treatment.

Precautions

Stop taking amicar if you:

• are allergic to amicar or any other medications.
• are taking any other prescription and non-prescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products. Be sure to mention any of the following medications: factor IX (AlphaNine SD, Mononine); factor IX complex (Bebulin VH, Profilnine SD, Proplex T); and anti-inhibitor coagulant complex (Feiba VH). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• have or have ever had blood clots or kidney, heart or liver disease.
• are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking amicar, call your doctor.
• are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking amicar.

Dosage forms

For the treatment of acute bleeding syndromes due to elevated fibrinolytic activity, it is suggested that 5 AMICAR 1000 mg Tablets or 10 AMICAR 500 mg Tablets (5 g) or 20 milliliter of AMICAR Oral Solution (5 g) be administered during the first hour of treatment, followed by a continuing rate of 1 AMICAR 1000 mg Tablet or 2 AMICAR 500 mg Tablets (1 g) or 5 milliliter of AMICAR Oral Solution (1.25 g) per hour. This method of treatment would ordinarily be continued for about 8 hours or until the bleeding situation has been controlled.