Amicar (Aminocaproic Acid)
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Amicar is a medicine that helps prevent bleeding from the mouth or nose. It is also often prescribed after surgery. It is prescribed for people with bleeding disorder diagnoses or people with bleeding tendencies.
When is Amicar used?
Doctors prescribe Amicar to people for treating mouth or nose bleeds. The mouth has lots of blood supply, so it bleeds easily.
Mouth bleeds are very common throughout childhood and into adulthood. Babies put many things into their mouth to explore the world and when they are teething. Children often bump their mouth while learning to crawl, stand or walk. Around the age of 5, children start losing teeth. All these stages can cause mouth bleeds. During the pre-teen through adult years, people may need dental work, such as wisdom tooth extraction.
For dental work that is invasive, please contact your hematology team so we can work with you and your dentist to come up with a treatment plan.
How does Amicar work?
The body has an amazing system of checks and balances when it comes to normal blood clotting. As soon as a clot is formed, the body goes into action to tear it down. The body produces cells that attack the fiber-like building blocks of clots.
Amicar is an antifibrinolytic (anti-fibrin-o-li-tic) agent. This means that it stops the body’s process of breaking down the clot. This helps stabilize the clot. Amicar does not help form a clot. It helps the body keep the clot for longer. By delaying the breakdown of a clot, it helps prevent bleeding.
Amicar is the same type of medicine as Lysteda, another commonly prescribed medicine to prevent the breakdown of blood clots. These medicines should not be taken at the same time. To read more about Lysteda, see our handout “Lysteda” seattlechildrens.org/pdf/PE4090.pdf.
If Amicar is given on schedule and for the prescribed length of time, it will help to prevent the breakdown of a clot until healing has happened.
How is it taken?
Amicar is taken by mouth as a pill or liquid. It is taken every 6 hours, even through the night when sleeping.
How long is it taken?
For mouth and nose bleeding, this should be taken until the injury site in the mouth or nose has completely healed, or as instructed by your care team. This could vary from a couple of days to several weeks.
How do I order Amicar?
Having Amicar on hand is much easier than trying to get some in a hurry. Be prepared by checking the expiration date on your bottle at least once a year. If expiring soon, running low, or out of refills contact your provider or pharmacy to request a new prescription.
Your insurance may not always cover Amicar. Please reach out to your hematology team if insurance does not cover the Amicar or if you have a high co-pay.
Are there side effects?
Most people do not have any side effects. Some people say they have mild nausea while taking this medicine. It may help reduce nausea if it is taken with food. For any symptoms other than nausea, or symptoms that do not go away after a short period of time, call your Hematology team.
If you develop trouble breathing, call 911.
Does Amicar take the place of other bleeding treatments?
No, Amicar does not take the place of other treatments like factor and platelets for people with a bleeding disorder diagnosis. People with bleeding disorders may have trouble making clots, so they may need treatment that helps their body make clots when they have more severe bleeding. Amicar can be taken afterwards to help stabilize the clot. You can talk about options for bleeding with your Hematology team.
Why is staying on time with the dose so important?
When a dose is late or missed, the protection of Amicar is lost or lowered. Giving it at scheduled times keeps a steady level in the bloodstream.
It is important to take Amicar until your provider says it is OK to stop. Do not stop taking Amicar or lighten up on the schedule when it is doing its job with immediate bleeding.
It can take several days for healing to happen, making that area vulnerable to re-bleeding. Keep taking it until healing is fully complete. Call your Hematology team if bleeding starts again.
What if there is a missed dose?
If you are late for your dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you have any questions about how to make up a missed dose; or if more than one dose is missed, a dose is thrown up or if re-bleeding starts, call the hematology team. Do not double the dose to catch up.
Who should not take Amicar?
Do NOT take Amicar if you:
- are taking FEIBA
- could be pregnant
- have kidney or bladder injury or bleeding
- have heart, kidney or liver disease
- have a clot in a vein or artery
How do I store Amicar?
- Keep Amicar at room temperature – between 59° F (15° C) and 86° F (30° C) – and away from light and moisture.
- Do not store the container in the refrigerator.
- Do not store in the bathroom because there is too much moisture.
- Do not freeze liquid forms of this medicine.
- Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
To Learn More
- Cancer and Blood Disorders Center (Hematology Team)
206-987-2106 - Ask your child’s healthcare provider
- seattlechildrens.org/patient-education
Free Interpreter Services
- In the hospital, ask your nurse.
- From outside the hospital, call the toll-free Family Interpreting Line, 1-866-583-1527. Tell the interpreter the name or extension you need.
