Pradaxa
If you or a loved one have been injured while taking the blood thinner drug Pradaxa, you may be eligible for compensation. For a free legal consultation, please fill out the form to the right or contact us directly at 1-800-305-6000.
The Pradaxa lawyers at Arentz Law Group, P.C. have earned a national reputation for excellence in dangerous drug litigation, helping countless victims recover full compensation for their damages. Pradaxa (dabigatran) is an anticoagulant approved by the FDA in 2010, and it is prescribed to prevent blood clots that can cause heart attacks and stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. Pradaxa is a very effective blood thinner, but it has proven to carry the risk of serious injury or death as a result of uncontrolled internal bleeding and other side effects. If you or a person you love has suffered injury or worse after taking Pradaxa, you may be entitled to collect substantial compensation for your pain and suffering and additional damages in a pharmaceutical product liability lawsuit. Serving clients across the United States, the Pradaxa lawyers at Arentz Law Firm, P.C. will stand by you until you recover the full compensation to which you are entitled. To learn how we can protect your rights, contact us today to schedule a free and confidential Pradaxa lawsuit consultation.
Learn About Pradaxa
When a person has atrial fibrillation, the upper chambers of his or heart do not contract completely, and this can cause blood to stagnate and form clots that may lead to a heart attack or stroke. Anticoagulants such as Pradaxa and thin the blood so that the likelihood of clot formation is reduced. Before the FDA approved Pradaxa for use in the United States in 2010, the preferred drug to prevent stroke and heart attack in patients with atrial fibrillation was Coumadin (warfarin). Warfarin is very effective, but it requires heavy patient monitoring, interacts negatively with many foods, and requires exact dosing to ensure that the patient is not over- or under-anticoagulated. Pradaxa is prescribed in a fixed dose and does not require the same level of patient monitoring, so it quickly became a popular alternative to warfarin.
Any blood thinner can lead to an increased risk of internal bleeding or hemorrhage. However, bleeds that occur in patients using warfarin can be stopped with a timely dose of Vitamin K. Pradaxa has no such reversal agent, which means that patients who use this drug could encounter uncontrollable internal bleeding which could lead to serious injury or death.
Pradaxa Side Effects
The maker of Pradaxa, Boehringer Ingelheim, has reported more than 260 deaths from Pradaxa-induced internal bleeding since the drug’s release in 2010. Some injuries that have lead to Pradaxa deaths include:
- Retinal bleeding/hemorrhage
- Gastrointestinal bleeding/hemorrhage
- Brain/cerebral bleeding/hemorrhage
- Kidney bleeding/hemorrhage
- Pulmonary/lung bleeding/hemorrhage
While any patient who takes Pradaxa is at risk for internal bleeding, this risk is heightened if patients have certain risk factors, such as:
- Advanced age: patients older than 75 years old face a higher risk of Pradaxa hemorrhages.
- Kidney problems: when a person has impaired renal function, his or her body has difficulty processing and expelling Pradaxa, which leads to higher levels of this drug in the blood and can elevate the risk of internal bleeding.
- Medications: Non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or aspirin can increase the likelihood of internal bleeding.
- Co-existing conditions: patients with a history of intestinal bleeding or stomach ulcers are more likely to experience Pradaxa internal bleeding.
Signs of Internal Bleeding
Even a minor injury can lead to significant blood loss if a person is taking a blood thinner such as Pradaxa. If you or someone you love is taking Pradaxa, it is very important that you are aware of potential signs of internal bleeding, which can include:
- Bloody noses
- Sudden and unexplained headache
- Changes in vision
- Weakness
- Pain in the chest
- Slurred speech
- Blue tint to lips, skin, or fingernails
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Joint pain
- Changes in motor skills
- Bleeding that lasts for longer than expected
- Coughing up blood
- Blood in urine or stools
- Vomiting blood
- Loss of consciousness
Contact our Pradaxa Lawyers
Many patients experience Pradaxa internal bleeding feel that they were not adequately educated about Pradaxa side effects. While Pradaxa labels do include information about the risk of internal bleeding, but many Pradaxa lawyers feel that these warnings are not prominent enough. Furthermore, some people feel that the release of Pradaxa without a reversal agent for hemorrhages was premature and negligent on the part of Boehringer Ingelheim. Based on these claims, a number of victims who have suffered injury or the loss of a loved one have opted to pursue Pradaxa lawsuits to recover compensation for their damages, which may include pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost wages. If you or someone you love has suffered injury or death after taking Pradaxa, you may wish to consider filing a dangerous drug lawsuit. To learn more about your rights, contact a Pradaxa lawyer from Arentz Law Group, P.C. for a confidential and cost-free evaluation of your claim.