The blood thinning medication Pradaxa has been linked to uncontrollable bleeding in patients. Paradox attorneys across the country are assisting affected patients and their families seek compensation for serious and life threatening injuries.
If you or a loved one took Pradxa and suffered complications, including uncontrollable bleeding, contact Attorney Group to learn more about your options. We offer free, confidential, no-obligation consultations. We can answer your questions, and if you wish to pursue a claim, we can connect you with an affiliated Pradaxa lawyer. The time you have to pursue a claim is limited, so contact us today.
What is Pradaxa?
Pradaxa was introduced in 2010 as a blood thinner meant to prevent strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation. The medication is also used to prevent blood clots from traveling to the brain and to prevent deep vein thrombosis in hip surgeries and knee replacement procedures. However, experts have disagreed about whether the medication comes with a higher risk of internal bleeding, while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asserted that Pradaxa is not any more dangerous than the traditional blood thinner known as warfarin. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices was warned that those suffering from bleeding while taking Pradaxa are five times more likely to die than those who experience bleeding from warfarin. The organization also named anticoagulants such as Pradaxa among the most harmful drugs available to consumers. Additionally, a study conducted at the University of Illinois at Chicago concluded that the data on which the FDA relied may have been flawed, resulting in a higher risk of bleeding from Pradaxa than originally expected.
Currently, a new study from Denmark suggests that patients may be taking the drug improperly. Data shows that there are greater risks of internal bleeding when a patient is switched from another blood thinner to Pradaxa.
Pradaxa Side Effects
Since Pradaxa and other anticoagulants work to inhibit the body’s ability to form clots, many similar medications pose a risk of serious and fatal bleeding. However, plaintiffs who are filing Pradaxa lawsuits allege that this particular medication puts patients at a higher risk for irreversible bleeds because Pradaxa, unlike other available medications, has no antidote to reverse anticlotting effects. By contrast, when a patient taking warfarin begins to bleed, a physician may administer vitamin K to stop the patient from bleeding. For those taking Pradaxa, vitamin K does not work; the only option is emergency dialysis, a procedure physicians argue is not practical for those suffering from life-threatening bleeding.
Patients who are working with Pradaxa Attorneys to file a lawsuit allege that some of the serious signs of bleeding include:
- Bloody, black or tarry stools
- Persistent or unusual tiredness or weakness
- Fainting or dizziness
- Severe headaches
- Bloody or coffee ground-colored vomit
- Coughing up blood
- Pink or dark urine
- Heavy or prolonged menstrual flow
- Frequent or persistent nosebleeds
- Prolonged bleeding from gums or cuts
- Easy or unusual bruising
Although bleeding injuries are at the center of most Pradaxa lawsuits, the medication has also been linked to less serious side effects including:
- Gastrointestinal ulcers
- GERD
- Abdominal discomfort and pain
- Severe vomiting, nausea or heartburn
It has been alleged that roughly 542 deaths have been connected to Pradaxa so far. This number, if accurate, surpasses all other currently monitored drugs. News and media outlets have begun to take notice of this risk, one of which reported of a patient taking Pradaxa falling in her kitchen and suffering a fatal intracranial hemorrhage.
Status of Pradaxa Lawsuits
On October 3, 2012, a preliminary hearing was held to determine a management plan for handling and distributing the pending Pradaxa lawsuits. These cases have been consolidated into a single court before Judge David R. Herndon, who has established specific dates for five bellwether trials while allowing the opportunity for both sides of the litigation to gauge and predict how future claims may be resolved. The first of these trials is not scheduled to begin until August 2014 with others following in September 2014, November 2014, January 2015 and February 2015.
If you or a loved one took Pradaxa and suffered complications, including uncontrollable bleeding, contact Attorney Group for more information.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information, and contact Attorney Group today.
