What is Pradaxa?
Pradaxa is a relatively new blood thinner that is marketed specifically to people with atrial fibrillation to prevent strokes. Approved in October 2010, Pradaxa initially seemed like a really useful drug. It prevented strokes due to atrial fibrillation better than any other drug on the market. However, emergency rooms began seeing a wave of patients suffering from life-threatening complications that were reportedly linked to Pradaxa, soon after the drug hit pharmacy shelves. The alleged danger of this drug has caught the attention of Florida Pradaxa Attorneys
What Does Pradaxa Do?
Pradaxa prevents blood from clotting. This eliminates the risk of dangerous blood clots forming in those who are susceptible to them. However, blood that doesn’t clot makes it easier for a person to bleed and harder to stop the bleeding. Clotting is the body’s natural way to stop bleeding. Even minor injuries can put a person at risk for heavy or even dangerous bleeding when they are on Pradaxa or any other blood thinner.
The Problem with Pradaxa
Other, older blood thinners like Warfarin (also known as Coumadin) have antidotes that can be given to someone who is bleeding excessively due to being injured while taking a blood thinning medication. These antidotes can remove the drug from the system and allow clotting to stop the bleeding. The problem with Pradaxa is that it apparently has no antidote, meaning that once a person on Pradaxa starts to bleed, there is no way of getting the drug out of the patient’s system to stop the bleeding. Pradaxa’s manufacturer recommends dialysis to remove Pradaxa from a patient who is bleeding. However, most doctors state that a bleeding patient will not tolerate dialysis well, and most do not have the time it takes to wait on dialysis treatment.
Older people are more at risk from severe bleeding from injuries while on Pradaxa. The highest risk group seems to be people ages 75 and over. However, anyone on Pradaxa is at risk for this emergency situation. Even tiny cuts from shaving or gum irritation from brushing teeth can cause uncontrolled and dangerous bleeding while on Pradaxa. Consuming alcohol can increase the chances of bleeding in any preexisting stomach ulcers as well.
Pradaxa has been reported to worsen bleeding from menstruation. It has also been reported to cause bleeding for no apparent reason. Nosebleeds are common while on this drug. A medical emergency occurs when a patient on Pradaxa starts coughing up or vomiting blood with no apparent reason. Medical attention should be sought immediately if a patient feels weaker than usual, because this could indicate undiscovered internal bleeding that must be treated right away.
Many Florida Pradaxa Attorneys and medical professionals have reported concerns that Pradaxa was pushed through the FDA approval process too quickly and that people have suffered as a result. Emergency room doctors who have seen Pradaxa patients with bleeding have expressed in reports feelings of helplessness at their inability to do anything to stop it. That is one of the reasons why Pradaxa lawsuit attorneys are seeking to hold the drug manufacturer, Boehringer Ingelheim, responsible for harms allegedly caused by Pradaxa.
Pradaxa has thus far been implicated as the cause in more than 500 deaths in the United States. Many of these deaths have resulted in Florida Pradaxa Attorneys filing lawsuits on behalf of the victims’ families. Boehringer Ingelheim is working on creating an antidote to Pradaxa. However, it isn’t ready yet and it will come too late to help those who have already died possibly due to the drug.
While patients taking Pradaxa do not have a higher risk of bleeding than those taking other blood thinning drugs, they do have a slightly higher risk of dying from bleeding than other blood thinner patients. This is mostly because of the lack of an antidote to Pradaxa.
Where to Get Help From Florida Pradaxa Attorneys
So far, more than 100 lawsuits regarding Pradaxa have been filed in federal courts. Those who have been injured after taking Pradaxa or who have had a loved one die because of it can find help through Attorney Group for Florida. The Florida Pradaxa Attorneys affiliated with Attorney Group for Florida help their clients determine if they have grounds to file a Pradaxa lawsuit. They will guide their clients all the way through the legal process involved in a Pradaxa lawsuit and pursue the best possible outcome for them. If you or your loved one believe you have been a victim of Pradaxa, Florida Pradaxa Attorneys will answer your questions and help you pursue the compensation you need to get back on the road to recovery. So contact Attorney Group for Florida today.
For more information, visit our Pradaxa Lawsuit Help Center
