Aminocaproic acid is a man-made form of a protein that occurs naturally in the body and helps the blood clot.

Aminocaproic acid is used to treat bleeding episodes in people with certain medical conditions such as aplastic anemia (lack of blood cells and platelets), cirrhosis of the liver, placenta abruptio (early separation of the placenta in pregnancy), urinary bleeding, and certain types of cancer. Aminocaproic acid is also used to prevent bleeding after heart surgery or placement of a shunt near the liver to control high blood pressure

Aminocaproic acid may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to it. Your doctor will perform blood tests to make sure you do not have other conditions that would prevent you from safely using aminocaproic acid.

Before you use aminocaproic acid, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, or a history of stroke or blood clot.

To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood cells and kidney function may need to be tested often. Do not miss any follow-up visits to your doctor for blood or urine tests.

Tell your doctor if you also use any clotting medications such as factor IX complex or anti-inhibitor coagulant complex (Autoplex, Feiba VH).

Stop taking aminocaproic acid and call your doctor if you have a serious side effect such as sudden numbness or weakness, pain or swelling in your legs, sudden cough, feeling short of breath, muscle tenderness or weakness with flu symptoms and dark colored urine, swelling, weight gain, urinating less than usual or not at all, sudden headache or confusion, or problems with vision, speech, or balance.

Do not give this medication to a child.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to it. Your doctor will perform blood tests to make sure you do not have other conditions that would prevent you from safely using aminocaproic acid.

To make sure you can safely take aminocaproic acid, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• kidney disease; or

• a history of stroke or blood clots;

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether aminocaproic acid will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

It is not known whether aminocaproic acid passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give this medication to a child.