Hemophilia

Medications

Medicines can be used in specific situations or in combination with clotting factor replacement to treat hemophilia.

• Antifibrinolytic agents prevent chemicals in the blood from breaking down blood clots. This type of medicine is used before dental procedures and to treat nosebleeds, because it slows bleeding in the mucous membranes. These medicines are usually used in combination with clotting factors.
• Desmopressin acetate is used, although rarely, to treat mild hemophilia A. This medicine releases unused clotting factor VIII from the cells that line blood vessels, which greatly increases the percentage of clotting factor VIII that is in the blood. Usually, desmopressin acetate is used in addition to clotting factor replacement. But for mild forms of hemophilia, it can be used instead of clotting factor replacement.

Medication Choices

Desmopressin acetate

Antifibrinolytic agents

What To Think About

Desmopressin and antifibrinolytic agents do not replace clotting factors as the major treatment for hemophilia.

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Author:	Robin Parks, MS Ralph Poore	Last Updated: October 12, 2007
Medical Review:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Brian Leber, MDCM, FRCPC - Hematology
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