Pradaxa® Side Effects: Death, Bleeding & Pradaxa Lawsuits
Pradaxa® side effects ranging from ulcers and internal bleeding to death can be grounds for a Pradaxa® lawsuit. If you are considering such action, know the facts and get experienced help.
What is Pradaxa®?
Pradaxa® (dabigatran etexilate mesylate) is a direct thrombin inhibitor anticoagulant, which became FDA-approved on October 29, 2010. Pradaxa® reduces the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Pradaxa® is being prescribed and used to replace existing successful blood thinners like Warfarin (Coumadin), the main agent used in the United States.
Anticoagulants reduce blood clotting, which is why they are more commonly called blood thinners. Anticoagulants like Pradaxa® are most commonly used in patients with atrial fibrillation, or an irregular heartbeat. This is because atrial fibrillation increases the risk of stroke, which is many times higher in patients with an irregular heartbeat.
Boehringer Ingelheim, based out of Ingelheim, Germany, manufactures Pradaxa®. While relatively new to the pharmaceutical market, in 2010 alone there were over 90,000 prescriptions written for Pradaxa®.
How is Pradaxa® Different Than Other Blood Thinners?
Pradaxa® has the usual side effects and health risks of other blood thinners, which include excessive bleeding. However, unlike older and perhaps safer anticoagulants like Warfarin, Pradaxa® has two important differences:
1. Pradaxa® has no known reversal agent or antidote; and
2. There is no standard method with which to measure the anticoagulant effects of Pradaxa®
Boehringer Ingelheim has marketed Pradaxa® as an improvement for patients requiring frequent blood draws, which other anticoagulants mandate for safety reasons. However, this medication has already led to reports of 260 deaths and many other serious life-threatening injuries, and those are only the reported adverse events.
Pradaxa® Lawsuit: Why You May Need a Lawyer
Experienced drug lawyers expect that more than 260 Pradaxa®-related deaths have happened and that the families have not realized the cause. If you or a loved one has experienced Pradaxa® side effects including internal bleeding, ulcers, cerebral hemorrhage, life-threatening bleeding, or even death, you need to speak to an experienced pharmaceutical defect lawyer now to learn more about your legal rights.
Pradaxa® Death
If you know that a loved one who has passed away was on Pradaxa® at the time of their death, or shortly before their death, it is crucial that you speak with a lawyer as soon as possible to avoid running out of time to file your lawsuit.
Call our office at 713-888-0080 or 1-888-469-8952,
