How To Manage Von Willebrand Disease

Clot-Stabilizing Medication

Clot-stabilizing medication is one of the standard treatments doctors provide for most patients with von Willebrand disease. Known as anti-fibrinolytic medicines, these drugs reduce bleeding by slowing the rate at which blood clots break down. Doctors typically prescribe these to patients with von Willebrand disease before they undergo a tooth extraction or operation, and some patients will need to take these medicines after the procedures too. Some of the most commonly prescribed clot-stabilizing drugs are aminocaproic acid and tranexamic acid. Patients taking aminocaproic acid should be aware of potential side effects such as headaches, itching, ringing in the ears, skin rashes, vomiting, and nausea. Patients who have been prescribed tranexamic acid must remain vigilant for the development of muscle cramps, stomach pain, diarrhea, back pain, and fatigue. If any new symptoms or unpleasant side effects develop, patients should inform their hematologist. It may be possible to switch to another, more tolerable type of clot-stabilizing medication/

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