Pharmacists have been given approval by the MHRA to sell tranexamic acid to treat heavy menstrual bleeding in women without a prescription.
The medicine will be available as a P medicine under the brand name Cyklo-F for women aged 18 to 45 years old with a history of regular heavy menstrual bleeding over several consecutive menstrual cycles.
The POM to P switch means women can self diagnose heavy menstrual bleeding and pharmacists will help decide if Cyklo-F is suitable for them.
Every year an estimated one in 20 women aged between 30 and 49 years consults a GP or healthcare professional about heavy menstrual bleeding, the MHRA said.
And Dr June Raine, director of vigilance and risk management of medicines at the agency, said: “Making Cyklo-F available through pharmacies without a prescription is an important step for women, helping improve their quality of life and provide them with the greater convenience of better access to medicines."