Pradaxa

Pradaxa is a blood thinner prescribed to people who have a high risk of blood clots. Unfortunately, Pradaxa can cause severe internal bleeding and other potentially life-threatening medical issues. As of 2014, the drug was linked to more than 1,000 deaths, according to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices.

If you suffered internal bleeding or any other side effects while taking Pradaxa, our experienced dangerous drug lawyers may be able to file a Pradaxa bleeding lawsuit to obtain compensation for medical expenses and other damages you suffered. Contact us today for a free, no obligation legal consultation to discuss the merits of your case. If you have grounds for a lawsuit, we will represent you on contingency so there will be no legal fees unless we obtain fair compensation. Drug makers have a legal responsibility to produce safe medications and provide fair warning about the risks to doctors and patients.

Fill out a Free Case Evaluation form today to find out if you can file a Pradaxa bleeding lawsuit.

Background and Uses for Pradaxa

In October 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the anticoagulant Pradaxa to reduce the risk of a stroke and systemic embolism in patients who have non-valvular atrial fibrillation (A-
Fib). This is a condition where the patient has an irregular heart beat in which the upper and lower chambers of the heart do not beat in coordination. This can increase a patient’s risk for a blood clot or stroke.

Since 2010, Pradaxa has been approved to treat many other conditions, including deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients who were treated with a parenteral anticoagulant for five to 10 days. Pradaxa is also approved to the reduce the risk of a recurrence of DVT or PE in patients who were previously treated for these conditions.

DVT is a condition where the patient suffers blood clots in the deep veins of his or her legs. If the clot travels to the brain, it can cause a stroke. PE is a blood clot that affects the lungs and if it travels to the heart it could cause a heart attack.

For decades, these conditions were treated with the drug Warfarin, which was marketed with the brand name Coumadin. Once Pradaxa was approved, it quickly became a popular alternative to Warfarin. From October 2010 to December 2013, there were approximately 6.2 million prescriptions written for Pradaxa.

This is partly because the marketing for the drug says it has advantages over Warfarin. For instance, Pradaxa has fewer drug interactions than Coumadin. This means there is a lower risk of the drug interacting with a patient’s other medications and possibly causing medical problems.

Another major advantage of Pradaxa is that it does not require patients to undergo regular blood testing, which makes it more convenient. Patients who take Warfarin need to be closely monitored to ensure their blood does not get too thin.

Unfortunately, Pradaxa can cause a variety of side effects, some of which could be life-threatening or cause long-term health problems.

Contact Roden Law today to discuss filing a Pradaxa bleeding lawsuit. Call 1-844-RESULTS.

What are the Risks of Taking Pradaxa?

Numerous studies have shown that there are many risks of taking Pradaxa to prevent blood clots.

For example, in May 2014, the FDA released the results of a study that found patients who took Pradaxa had an increased risk of major gastrointestinal bleeding compared to those who took Warfarin. The study consisted of a review of information on more than 134,000 Medicare patients 65 years old or older.

The FDA medication guide for Pradaxa notes that some patients have a higher risk of bleeding while taking this medication, including patients who are over 75 years of age or have any of the following medical issues:

There is also an increased risk of bleeding for patients taking the following medications:

Another study released in 2015 in the Journal of the American Medical Association also found that Pradaxa had a higher risk of major bleeding than warfarin, including gastrointestinal bleeding. The risk was particularly high in African American patients and those with chronic kidney disease.

Unfortunately, before the drug Praxbind was approved by the FDA in October 2015, there was no antidote, or drug on the market that could reverse uncontrolled bleeding caused by the blood-thinning effects of Pradaxa. This meant that Pradaxa patients had a higher risk of bleeding out, even from seemingly minor cuts, bruises or other injuries that caused bleeding.

Pradaxa has also been associated with heart attack risk that is 27 to 33 percent higher than comparable medications, according to an analysis of several studies published in January 2012 in the Archives of Internal Medicine online edition.

The Journal of the American College of Cardiology published a study in 2013 revealing that patients who suffer atrial fibrillation have a 38 percent higher risk of having a heart attack while on Pradaxa.

If you suffered any medical problems above, contact our defective drug lawyers today for a free, no-obligation legal consultation. We may be able to file a Pradaxa bleeding lawsuit to obtain compensation for the damages you suffered.

Call Roden Law today at 1-844-RESULTS

Signs You are Suffering Pradaxa Side Effects

Internal bleeding is a serious health issue that could be life-threatening if it is not treated immediately. This is why anyone who is taking Pradaxa should watch for any signs of internal bleeding, including:

If you notice any of these symptoms, you need to seek medical treatment right away so doctors can try to stop it.

Taking Pradaxa could also increase your risk of a heart attack so you should watch for the telltale signs of a heart attack, such as:

Even if you survive a heart attack or internal bleeding, you could be left with lifelong health problems, including impaired mobility, speech impediments and memory loss. These could create significant medical expenses and may leave you unable to work to support yourself.

This is why you should contact our skilled lawyers if you think these problems were caused by taking Pradaxa. The manufacturer could be held liable for failing to adequately warn you and your doctor about the serious risks of this medication. We may be able to pursue compensation by filing a Pradaxa bleeding lawsuit.

Fill out a Free Case Evaluation form right now.

Pradaxa Lawsuits

Countless studies are not the only pieces of evidence about the dangers of Pradaxa. In May 2014, Pradaxa manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim agreed to pay $650 million to settle thousands of lawsuits over this medication.

These Pradaxa bleeding lawsuits claimed that the drug caused serious and sometimes fatal bleeding that was very difficult to reverse. They also claimed that the manufacturer failed to provide adequate warnings to patients and their families.

Lawyers for these patients also claimed that the company misled patients and doctors. Company documents were made public in 2014 showing that Boehringer employees argued in favor of revising or stopping an internal research paper. They feared that it would lead some to conclude that Pradaxa patients would benefit from taking blood tests.

Our dangerous drug attorneys are prepared to file a Pradaxa bleeding lawsuit to obtain compensation for the medical problems this drug caused you.

Schedule a free, no obligation legal consultation right now to determine your legal options.

Contact us Today About a Pradaxa Bleeding Lawsuit

At Roden Law, our national Pradaxa attorneys specialize in providing resolution to families who have been unnecessarily victimized by dangerous drugs. We believe you should never have to pay the consequences for someone else’s negligence.

To review the specifics of your case, call us to set up a free case evaluation with one of our experienced associates. We will listen to your concerns and help you decide on the next steps you should take.

We take Pradaxa bleeding lawsuits on a contingency fee basis. This means you will not be charged legal fees unless you receive compensation.