Tranexamic acid is a medicine that helps stop or reduce heavy bleeding. It works as an 'antifibrinolytic' — it slows the breakdown of blood clots, so a clot that forms to stop bleeding stays in place longer. In Nigeria it is used for several genuinely important reasons: heavy menstrual periods, bleeding after surgery, dental work, or injury, nosebleeds, and — very significantly — to prevent and treat the dangerous bleeding that can follow childbirth.
In the NAFDAC register
10 registered products
from 9 registration holders
What it costs online
Price varies — check with a pharmacy. This drug has not yet appeared in our fortnightly sampling of Nigerian online pharmacies.
Brands of Tranexamic acid in Nigeria
Comes as
- Tablet500 mg· 3 makers
Those 10 products from 9 registration holders include combination products and older listings; below are the most common brands.
| Brand Name | Manufacturer | Strength | Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyklokapron | Pfizer | 500mg | Tablet |
Tranexamic acid Price in Nigeria
Tranexamic acid prices in Nigeria vary by brand, strength, and where you buy it. Confirm the current price with a licensed pharmacy, and always check the product is NAFDAC-registered before you pay.
We show a price here once it appears in our monthly sampling of Nigerian online pharmacies (MedPlus, HealthPlus), or when we have a reliable market figure. For now, confirm the current price directly with a licensed pharmacy.
How to Verify Your Tranexamic acid is Genuine
- 1Get tranexamic acid from a licensed pharmacy, ideally with a doctor's guidance for the reason you need it
- 2Check the NAFDAC registration number on the pack and verify it on the NAFDAC Green Book or app
- 3Check the expiry date and that the packaging is sealed and untampered
- 4Genuine tablets should be uniform; discard any that look irregular
- 5Be very cautious of 'skin-lightening' or 'glutathione-plus-tranexamic' products from unverified online and social-media sellers, which may be unregistered, wrongly dosed, or mixed with hidden ingredients
- 6For a bleeding problem, a medical assessment is safer and more effective than self-treating
Where to Buy
Buying Tranexamic acid by the carton
Cartons are bought at Nigeria's four open drug markets. Each guide names the sellers there you can contact, and how to buy safely:
No shop we list has Tranexamic acid on its confirmed product list yet — the market guides still tell you where the trade happens and how to buy there safely.
Wherever you buy, buy only from licensed pharmacies and verified distributors — not roadside vendors — and verify the pack's NAFDAC registration before you pay. Buying Tranexamic acid in bulk or for resale? See how to buy medicines in bulk in Nigeria safely.
Need Tranexamic acid in bulk, or can't find it near you?
Tell us what you need and we'll connect you with a verified, NAFDAC-registered source.
What is Tranexamic acid?
That last use is a major public-health story. Postpartum haemorrhage (heavy bleeding after delivery) is one of the leading causes of maternal death in Nigeria, and giving tranexamic acid quickly has been shown to save mothers' lives, which is why it is now a standard part of emergency obstetric care. For heavy periods, tranexamic acid tablets taken only during the days of bleeding can substantially cut how much blood is lost, without affecting fertility or hormones.
In recent years, tranexamic acid has also become popular in Nigeria and across Africa for a completely different, cosmetic reason: skin lightening and treating melasma (dark facial patches), taken as oral tablets or applied in creams and serums. This is where caution is essential. Oral tranexamic acid taken long-term for skin lightening — often without medical supervision, at doses copied from social media — is not a licensed use, and it is a blood-clotting medicine: misusing it can raise the risk of dangerous clots, especially in people with clotting risk factors. Used correctly for bleeding under medical guidance it is safe and valuable; used casually as a beauty product it carries real risk.
What is Tranexamic acid used for?
In Nigeria, Tranexamic acid is commonly used for:
- Heavy menstrual bleeding — reducing blood loss during periods
- Preventing and treating postpartum haemorrhage (heavy bleeding after childbirth)
- Controlling bleeding after surgery, tooth extraction, or trauma
- Nosebleeds and other bleeding problems, including in people with bleeding disorders
- Melasma / skin lightening — a growing but off-label and often unsafe use (see warnings)
Dosage
IMPORTANT
Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions. The information below is for general reference only.
Adults
For heavy menstrual bleeding, a common regimen is 1000mg (two 500mg tablets) three times a day, taken only during the days of heavy bleeding, for up to about 4 days each cycle. For other bleeding, doses and routes (tablets or injection) are set by the treating doctor. In postpartum haemorrhage, it is given as an injection by trained staff as soon as possible. Do not take it continuously every day for menstrual bleeding — only during the bleeding days.
Children
Used in children only for specific bleeding problems under specialist guidance.
Elderly
Used with attention to kidney function and clotting risk.
Take tranexamic acid only for the days it is needed, at the correct dose. Do not use it long-term or daily for skin lightening without a doctor's supervision, as prolonged use of a clot-stabilising medicine can raise the risk of blood clots. Tell your doctor if you have ever had a blood clot, a stroke, or a clotting disorder, or if you take the contraceptive pill, before using it for any reason.
Side Effects
Common side effects
- •Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea (more likely at higher doses)
- •Indigestion or abdominal discomfort
- •Headache
- •Tiredness or dizziness
Serious side effects — seek medical help immediately
- Blood clots — pain, swelling, warmth or redness in a leg (DVT), sudden breathlessness or chest pain (pulmonary embolism), or signs of a stroke — seek emergency care
- Sudden change in vision or colour vision (rare) — stop and seek advice
- A severe allergic reaction: swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing
- Seizures (rare, usually only with high intravenous doses)
When to see a doctor
Seek emergency care for symptoms of a blood clot (leg pain and swelling, sudden breathlessness or chest pain, face drooping, weakness, or trouble speaking) or a severe allergic reaction. See your doctor before using tranexamic acid if you have any history of clots, stroke, or a clotting disorder, and stop and seek advice if your vision changes. For heavy periods that need treatment every cycle, get assessed to find the underlying cause.
Warnings & Precautions
Do not take Tranexamic acid if you have:
- Do not use if you have, or have had, a blood clot (DVT or pulmonary embolism), or an active clotting condition
- Avoid with a history of stroke, or seizures, unless a specialist advises
- Use caution with the contraceptive pill or other clot-raising factors — the risk of clots may add up, especially with long-term cosmetic use
- Reduce the dose in kidney impairment
- Do not use if you are allergic to tranexamic acid
Drug interactions
- •Combined hormonal contraceptives (the pill) and oestrogen therapy raise clot risk, which may add to tranexamic acid's effect
- •Other medicines that promote clotting or stop bleeding should be combined only under medical advice
- •Tell your doctor about all medicines, particularly if using tranexamic acid long-term for skin lightening
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tranexamic acid is used in pregnancy and childbirth specifically to treat dangerous bleeding, under medical supervision, and it is a life-saving treatment for postpartum haemorrhage. Small amounts pass into breast milk and it is generally considered acceptable while breastfeeding when needed. Its cosmetic, skin-lightening use should not be pursued during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Any use in pregnancy should be guided by a doctor.
Related Resources for Tranexamic acid
Guides, articles, and tools related to Tranexamic acid and other reproductive health medicines in Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- •NAFDAC Greenbook — the official database of all products registered with Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. Brand-level NAFDAC numbers for Tranexamic acid on this page were cross-referenced against the Greenbook.
- •WHO Model List of Essential Medicines — Tranexamic acid is included in the WHO's list of essential medicines, meaning it is considered essential for basic healthcare needs.
- •British National Formulary (BNF) dosing and interaction guidance for Tranexamic acid.
- •Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health).
Daily puzzle: Meddle — pair five brands with their medicines. New game at midnight.