Pradaxa
***UPDATE: Please note that Riddle & Brantley is no longer accepting these cases.
FDA & Pradaxa
Pradaxa is an oral blood-thinning medication which is used to reduce the risk of stroke and blood clots in people with atrial fibrillation. Although there may be some benefits to this medication, there are also many side-effects, which may cause serious injuries.
In December 7, 2011, The US Food and Drug Administration announced it would begin investigating Pradaxa to determine if its side effects were more severe than other anticoagulant drugs. The results indicated that Pradaxa did not increase the risk of bleeding compared to other similar drugs, such as Warfarin. Although this is true, the FDA failed to indicate the drug Warfarin included reversing agents needed if extreme bleeding does occur, whereas Pradaxa does not. As a result, over 1,800 lawsuits have been filed, as of November 2013, regarding the adverse side-effects of Pradaxa.
At Riddle & Brantley, our dangerous drug attorneys have represented dozens of injured victims over the years, and have discovered, the sooner a victim seeks legal counsel, the better. By doing so, it will enable our attorneys to gather critical evidence and documents which can be used to formulate a robust case against the negligent individual.
For more information about Pradaxa lawsuits, we welcome you to call (800) 525-7111 or complete the free case evaluation form to the right.
Consumer Information
In October 2010, the FDA approved Pradaxa, which would lead to over 5.5 million prescriptions by February 2013. The drug is intended to help prevent strokes and blood clots in patients with atrial fibrillation, a common type irregular heartbeat in elderly patients. Pradaxa is included in the class of medications referred to as direct thrombin inhibitors, which block the clotting protein in the blood stream.
Bleeding Caused By Pradaxa
There have been multiple patients that have reported suffering from internal bleeding following the use of Pradaxa. According to Boehringer Ingelheim, a German pharmaceutical company which makes the drug, there were over 260 deaths related to bleeding events. Unlike Warfarin and other anticoagulant drugs, Pradaxa has no antidote to reverse its anticlotting effects. This can make it more difficult to stop the patient from bleeding.
Pradaxa Side Effects
While internal bleeding injuries are the most common pending Pradaxa lawsuits, the blood thinning medication has also been linked to a number of other side effects. The following include some of the other side effects associated with Pradaxa:
- Bleeding lasting a long time
- Coughing blood
- Feeling weak
- Frequent nosebleeds
- Headaches
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Pink or brown urine
- Red or black stool
- Uncontrollable bleeding
- Unexpected joint pain or swelling
- Unusual bruising
- Vomiting blood
In addition to these side effects, people taking Pradaxa are at in increased risk for heart attacks. In fact, research has proven that individuals taking Pradaxa have a 38 percent increased chance of having a heart attack than patients on other anti-coagulant medications.
Contact Our North Carolina Pradaxa Injury Attorneys Today
Our North Carolina dangerous drug attorneys are prepared to take the time to understand each of our client’s needs. At Riddle & Brantley, we understand that no two cases are the same, and will tailor our approach to address each client’s individual concerns.
With locations throughout the state of North Carolina, our attorneys are able to serve injured victims of dangerous drugs throughout the state, and elsewhere needed. Our legal team also operates on a contingency fee basis, which means you only pay when you win with to state that we don’t charge attorney fees unless we are successful in obtaining a recovery or offer of settlement.
For more information about how our lawyers can help, we welcome you to give us a call at (800) 525-7111 or complete the free case evaluation form on this page today.