Dosing & Uses
Dosage Forms & Strengths
injectable solution
- 250mg/mL
syrup
- 1.25g/5mL
tablet
- 500mg
- 1,000mg
Fibrinolytic Bleeding
Initial: 4-5 g IV/PO during 1st hr, THEN 1-1.25 g PO q1hr, OR
Continuous IV infusion at 1 g/hr
Continue for 8 hr or until bleeding controlled, not to exceed 30 g/day
Decrease dose in cardiac, renal, or hepatic disease
Control of Bleeding with Severe Thrombocytopenia (Off-label)
Initial: 100 mg/kg IV over 30-60 min; not to exceed 5 g
Maintenance: 1-4 g PO/IV q4-8hr for 1 g/hr; not to exceed 24 g/24hr
Hyphema (Orphan)
Topical gel (Caprogel) for treatment of traumatic hyphema of the eye
Administration: Topical
Orphan indication sponsor
- Eastern Virginia Medical School Department of Ophthalmology; 880 Kempsville Road, Suite 2500; Norfolk, VA 23502-3990
Other Indications & Uses
Bleeding due to systemic hyperfibrinolysis
Off-label: prevent recurrence of subarachnoid hemorrhage; prevent hereditary angioneurotic edema attacks; reduce post-op bleeding
Dosage Forms & Strengths
injectable solution
- 250mg/mL
syrup
- 1.25g/5mL
tablet
- 500mg
Prevention of Perioperative Bleeding Associated with Cardiac Surgery (Off-label)
100 mg/kg IV over 20-30 min after induction prior to incision
100 mg/kg IV over 20-30 min during cardiopulmonary bypass
100 mg/kg IV after heparin reversal
Interactions
Interaction Checker
No Results

Contraindicated
Serious - Use Alternative
Significant - Monitor Closely
Minor

Contraindicated (0)
Serious - Use Alternative (0)
Monitor Closely (3)
- defibrotide
aminocaproic acid decreases effects of defibrotide by pharmacodynamic antagonism. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely. Defibrotide may diminish effects of thrombolytic agents. Consider therapy modification.
- ethinylestradiol
ethinylestradiol, aminocaproic acid. Other (see comment). Use Caution/Monitor. Comment: Concomitant use may lead to additive hypercoagulability. Estrogens increase clotting factor production and platelet aggregation; aminocaproic acid inhibits fibrinolysis and activity of plasminogen.
- mestranol
mestranol decreases effects of aminocaproic acid by pharmacodynamic antagonism. Use Caution/Monitor. Risk of thromboembolic disorder.
Minor (0)
Adverse Effects
Frequency Not Defined
Confusion
Vision decrease
Vomiting
Headache
Convulsions
Malaise
Muscle weakness
Dizziness
Tinnitus
Nausea
Bradycardia
Thrombosis
Edema
Hypotension
Stroke
Syncope
Intracranial hypertension
Peripheral ischemia
Pulmonary embolism
Dyspnea
Congestion
Diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Leukopenia
Agranulocytosis
Coagulation disorder
Dry ejaculation
Injection site reactions (pain/necrosis)
Myopathy
Pruritus
Rash
Renal failure
Anaphylaxis
Warnings
Contraindications
In presence of DIC without concomitant heparin
Evidence of active intravascular clotting process
Cautions
Use cautioni in renal/cardiac/hepatic impairment
In patients with upper urinary tract bleeding, therapy has been known to cause intrarenal obstruction in form of glomerular capillary thrombosis or clots in renal pelvis and ureters; for this reason, drug should not be used in hematuria of upper urinary tract origin, unless possible benefits outweigh risks
Avoid rapid IV administration
Therapy inhibits both action of plasminogen activators and to a lesser degree, plasmin activity; drug should not be administered without a definite diagnosis and/or laboratory finding indicative of hyperfibrinolysis (hyperplasminemia)
Preservative benzyl alcohol linked to fatal "Gasping Syndrome" in premature neonates
Skeletal muscle weakness with necrosis of muscle fibers reported following prolonged administration (rare); Clinical presentation may range from mild myalgias with weakness and fatigue to severe proximal myopathy with rhabdomyolysis, myoglobinuria, and acute renal failure; muscle enzymes, especially creatine phosphokinase (CPK) are elevated; monitor CPK levels in patients on long-term therapy; stop therapy if rise in CPK noted; resolution follows discontinuation of therapy; however, syndrome may recur if therapy restarted
Inhibition of fibrinolysis may theoretically result in clotting or thrombosis; there is no definite evidence that therapy has been responsible for few reported cases of intravascular clotting which followed treatment; rather, it appears that intravascular clotting was most likely due to patient's preexisting clinical condition, eg, the presence of DIC; it has been postulated that extravascular clots formed in vivo may not undergo spontaneous Iysis as do normal clots
Therapy should not be administered with Factor IX Complex concentrates or Anti-Inhibitor Coagulant concentrates, as risk of thrombosis may increase
Reports have appeared in literature of increased incidence of certain neurological deficits,j including hydrocephalus, cerebral ischemia, or cerebral vasospasm associated with use of antifibrinolytic agents in treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH); all of these events have also been described as part of the natural course of SAH, or as a consequence of diagnostic procedures such as angiography; drug relatedness remains unclear
Differentiate primary fibrinolysis from disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
- When there is uncertainty as to whether cause of bleeding is primary fibrinolysis or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), distinction must be made before administering therapy
-
The following tests can be applied to differentiate the two conditions:
- Platelet count is usually decreased in DIC but normal in primary fibrinolysis
- Protamine paracoagulation test is positive in DIC; a precipitate forms when protamine sulfate is dropped into citrated plasma; the test is negative in presence of primary fibrinolysis
- The euglobulin clot Iysis test is abnormal in primary fibrinolysis but normal in DIC
Pregnancy & Lactation
Pregnancy Category: C
Lactation: Not known whether excreted in breast milk, use caution
Pregnancy Categories
A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.
B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk. C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done. D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk. X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist. NA: Information not available.Pharmacology
Mechanism of Action
Inhibits fibrinolysis through inhibition of plasminogen binding to fibrin and subsequent conversion to plasmin, which in turn inhibits fibrinolysis
Exhibits antiplasmin activity
Pharmacokinetics
Onset: 1-72 hr
Duration: 3-4 hr (after 1 dose)
Half-Life: 2 hr
Vd: 23 L (PO), 30 L (IV)
Metabolism: Liver
Metabolites: Adipic acid
Clearance: 169 mL/min
Time to peak: Within 2 hr (PO)
Excretion: urine (65%)
Dialyzable: HD: yes
Administration
IV Compatibilities
Solution: D5W, NS, Ringer's
Additive: netilmicin
Y-site: fenoldopam
IV Administration
Initial 5 g in 250 mL over 1 hr, each subsequent gram in 50-100 mL at 1 g/hr
Rapid injection undiluted into a vein is not recommended
Continue for about 8 hr or until bleeding has been controlled
Storage
Store between 15-30°C (59-86°F)
Do not freeze
Images
BRAND | FORM. | UNIT PRICE | PILL IMAGE |
---|---|---|---|
aminocaproic acid intravenous - | 250 mg/mL vial | ![]() | |
aminocaproic acid intravenous - | 250 mg/mL vial | ![]() | |
aminocaproic acid intravenous - | 250 mg/mL vial | ![]() | |
aminocaproic acid intravenous - | 250 mg/mL vial | ![]() | |
aminocaproic acid intravenous - | 250 mg/mL vial | ![]() | |
Amicar oral - | 250 mg/mL (25 %) solution | ![]() | |
Amicar oral - | 1,000 mg tablet | ![]() | |
Amicar oral - | 500 mg tablet | ![]() | |
aminocaproic acid oral - | 500 mg tablet | ![]() | |
aminocaproic acid oral - | 500 mg tablet | ![]() | |
aminocaproic acid oral - | 1,000 mg tablet | ![]() | |
aminocaproic acid oral - | 250 mg/mL (25 %) solution | ![]() | |
aminocaproic acid oral - | 500 mg tablet | ![]() | |
aminocaproic acid oral - | 1,000 mg tablet | ![]() | |
aminocaproic acid oral - | 500 mg tablet | ![]() | |
aminocaproic acid oral - | 250 mg/mL (25 %) solution | ![]() |
Copyright © 2010 First DataBank, Inc.
Patient Handout
aminocaproic acid intravenous
NO MONOGRAPH AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME
USES: Consult your pharmacist.
HOW TO USE: Consult your pharmacist.
SIDE EFFECTS: Consult your pharmacist.In the US -Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
PRECAUTIONS: Consult your pharmacist.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Consult your pharmacist.Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.
OVERDOSE: If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.
NOTES: No monograph available at this time.
MISSED DOSE: Consult your pharmacist.
STORAGE: Consult your pharmacist.Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
Information last revised July 2016. Copyright(c) 2023 First Databank, Inc.
IMPORTANT: HOW TO USE THIS INFORMATION: This is a summary and does NOT have all possible information about this product. This information does not assure that this product is safe, effective, or appropriate for you. This information is not individual medical advice and does not substitute for the advice of your health care professional. Always ask your health care professional for complete information about this product and your specific health needs.
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