Lysteda and Headaches: What Users Say

• Gir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 28, 2013

For Menstrual Disorders "I am 45 years old and have been suffering disabling heavy periods for about 6 years now. My doctor suggested ablation for my heavy periods, but I wanted to try non-surgical remedies first. This medicine is AMAZING. I take 2 pills 3 times a day for 3 days (total of 18 pills). I start on the 2nd day of my period, which is the heaviest. My period dries up and is over within 4 days. I have headaches on or off this medicine during my period, so I cannot say for sure whether that is a side effect. I have my life back each month."

• Cac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 1, 2013

For Heavy Menstrual Bleeding "I am a 49-year-old female that has been suffering for 2 years with painful, heavy periods due to fibroids. For the first 2 days, I always had to double up with a tampon and a pad. My gyn dr. prescribed me Lysteda, also known as Tranexamic Acid. The dosage is 2 tablets, 3 times a day, for 5 days. It started working immediately, cutting the blood flow by 50-80%. I no longer had to double up on protection, and I can now sleep through the night. I still had some cramping on the 2nd day, but OTC pain relief helped with that. Side effects: 1 hour after taking the pills, I felt light-headed/slightly dizzy; I experienced minor headaches (nothing unmanageable). I found the pills to be too large to swallow, so I had to cut them in half or thirds. Overall, I love this medication, it has given me my life back."

• cha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 8, 2013

For Heavy Menstrual Bleeding "I tried this medicine for the first time during my last cycle. It worked immediately and drastically reduced my extremely heavy flow. However, I had headaches the first few days. This is not a usual experience. Also, I am usually EXTREMELY REGULAR. As of today, my cycle is 14 days late. I am not complaining and hope it never returns."

• Kan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 13, 2013

For Heavy Menstrual Bleeding "I've been taking Lysteda for over a year and I absolutely love it! I have fibroids, and I bleed very heavily (soak a super plus tampon in an hour). With Lysteda, my periods are so much better! I take 4 pills per day (morning and night) for two days, and the bleeding is decreased by about 60% to 70%. I do get headaches after taking it, but it's worth it."

• Anonymous
• November 15, 2010

For Heavy Menstrual Bleeding "I have used Lysteda 2x now with great success. It has slowed down and then stopped my menstrual cycle within 4 doses. I am a bit concerned that one of the possible side effects could be blood clots. I personally have not had any. However, because I am an RN, I have realized that the side effects of this drug could be scary if not used EXACTLY as the doctor has prescribed and at the time intervals prescribed. I have had headaches each time that I have used it but I also suffer from migraine headaches. For me, the headaches are worth the benefit that Lysteda provides. Just make sure that the directions for use are followed completely and report any odd/new symptoms to your doctor."

• Sab...
• November 4, 2015

For Heavy Menstrual Bleeding "I've suffered with heavy periods for the past couple of years. I wanted to make sure that I considered all options before choosing surgery. This medication is great, but has some side effects. For me, I have headaches and diarrhea while on this medication and a few days after my cycle has ended. I also found that my cycle lasts longer when I take this medication. At this point, I've opted to contend with 2 days of heavy bleeding and with a cycle that lasts 4-5 days, as opposed to taking the medication with extended periods, headaches, and diarrhea; that could last 8-9 days. The plus/pro of the medication is that my periods are lighter when I am taking the medication, however it stays on much longer."

• Anonymous
• August 20, 2011

For Heavy Menstrual Bleeding "I am taking Lysteda for the first time. It works extremely well. My flow has been reduced by about 75%. I used to soak through both a super absorbency tampon and overnight pad within two hours. Now I can just wear a pad, and it doesn't get full. The only side effect that I'm experiencing is headaches. I don't normally get them, but the results are worth it."

• 39...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 7, 2016

For Heavy Menstrual Bleeding "My periods were extreme bleeding, large and numerous blood clots to the point of anemia from fibroids that would affect whether I would leave the house. I was using tampons and sometimes layering 2 pads next to each other and it still was not enough. I hate taking medications, but felt I was to the point that I needed to try something. I took Lysteda (2 pills/3 times a day) for my first time, it was amazing. Only used a tampon and light pad. Other periods after, bleeding was cut in half. Side effect: occasional headache. Lets me manage periods while I prepare for uterine artery embolization."

• Son...
• January 18, 2012

For Heavy Menstrual Bleeding "Has definitely decreased my flow by about 50%. I have not had any accidents while taking this medication. Before, I had at least one or two accidents per cycle. The headaches can be annoying, but I'd take them over the heavy flow any day!"

• Anonymous
• July 17, 2011

For Menstrual Disorders "I used it for the first time, and I have spotting on a pad instead of tons of clotting and lots of bleeding. I feel better and did not feel it caused headaches, and I do get PMS migraines as before. I would recommend it. I had a DNC to help with my problem 3 months ago, and last month I started clotting and heavy bleeding again. My doctor told me to try this, as birth control did not do anything positive and made me feel like I am pregnant and gain weight. I am grateful this works, as on the heavy bleeding clotting days, I would feel emotionally slipping into real depression. I am not depressed, but the bleeding seems to bring erratic mood swings. This did help as the doctor said it should. I am not worried about blood clots as I do not smoke."

• KSL...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 8, 2021

For Heavy Menstrual Bleeding "So grateful for this drug. I don't think I realized how much my heavy periods decreased my quality of life. I would have to say no to outings-especially hikes or water activities that fell on the wrong day. I would miss multiple nights of good sleep because I was anxious about bleeding through or busy getting up to go to the bathroom multiple times. The missed sleep and anxiety about bleeding through at night and during the day would affect me for the rest of the week. For more than a decade, I battled anemia. I was in a fog because of this. For the first time, with only taking intermittent iron, my iron and hemoglobin levels were normal recently. I do occasionally get a mild headache with this drug, but worth it as it is very mild."

• Bri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 12, 2012

For Heavy Menstrual Bleeding "I have polycystic ovarian syndrome and heavy menstrual bleeding. The doctor prescribed Lysteda 650 mg tablets. My doctor stated he only wants me to take 1 tablet by mouth once daily. He prescribed me 6 pills with 2 refills. I took one yesterday, 12/11/2012, around 3:00. All I have been doing since is spotting. I am in WOW mode because I could not believe how fast it worked. The side effect I got from it is a headache. I am not experiencing any clotting. I also take vitamins. Since I have PCOS, my periods are irregular. They started being irregular when I was 20. I have always had regular periods until I turned 20. They diagnosed me on May 11th, 2012, a day before my wedding anniversary, and have been battling since then."

• Kai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 3, 2022

For Heavy Menstrual Bleeding "I have endometriosis and suspected adenomyosis. I have very heavy bleeding during my periods. I also have worsened pelvic pain and terrible cramping during my periods. This medication has helped me greatly. My bleeding, pain, and cramping have lessened drastically. It does cause headaches for me, but otherwise, this medication works great."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2022

For Menstrual Disorders "After my first two doses of Lysteda, I got very sick to my stomach, horrible abdominal pain, vomiting, and a very bad headache. I also feel very stiff in my joints, and I'm a very active person, so that is not common for me because I stretch regularly. Neck pain, elbow, and knee pain. I'm also very lightheaded and dizzy. I only took 4 total doses, and I have been so sick for two days, and my bleeding did not reduce, nor did the cramps, like my doctor said they would. I ended up dealing with my typical horrible period pains/frustrations, as well as new side effects and pain from being so sick. I missed two days of work. I know this drug works well for a lot of people, but absolutely not for me."

• 3ki...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 5, 2016

For Heavy Menstrual Bleeding "After researching various options with my gyn, I decided to try Lysteda. I'm on my second month with it. The first month saw horrible cramps barely controlled with Advil, etc. This month I had almost no cramps nor headaches. I was pleasantly surprised when the flow was much lighter on day 2, normally like Niagara Falls for me. But day 3 isn't really much lighter than it used to be, and my periods are longer. Does it cut the flow? Yes. Does it make mine light? No. I still lose 2 ounces per hour or two during day 3, so I'll use it while I investigate other options."

• MPa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2018

For Heavy Menstrual Bleeding "I couldn't continue using the medication. After the second dose of the 2 pills, I experienced horrid side effects. Joint and muscle pain, as if someone took a bat to my body, nausea and horrid stomach cramps, along with my menstrual cramps, and the cherry on top... bad headache with a faint feeling. I was useless at work. I'd rather deal with the heavy bleeding/staining for two days than go through the side effects again. NOPE... not for me."

• Ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2015

For Heavy Menstrual Bleeding "I have horrible periods. Horrible meaning changing a super plus tampon every one to two hours with clots 7-10 days long. This includes during the night as well. Messing up clothes and sheets on my bed. My doctor recommended Lysteda before an endometrial ablation. Two pills three times a day for five days. Started on my third day. My first week, what a joke. Reduced my period maybe 30-40? If that. Gave me headaches and caused dizziness. Thanks for nothing. I'll be having a biopsy to have an ablation instead."