PRADAXA® BLEEDING EVENTS
Pradaxa® (dabigatran) is a drug prescribed as a medication for blood thinning that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The drug is supposed to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AFib).
Pradaxa is in a class of anticoagulant drugs referred to as direct thrombin inhibitors. These medications attach to clotting agents in the blood and reduce its ability to clot.
Different than other blood thinners, while on Pradaxa the patient doesn’t need monthly blood tests, Pradaxa also has no known counteracting drug. This can make things very complicated when trying to stop bleeding in patients who use Pradaxa.
Between October 2010 and August 2011, approximately 1.1 million Pradaxa prescriptions were dispensed from U.S. pharmacies.
Serious Bleeding Can Occur
The FDA recently began evaluating reports that serious bleeding is more common in patients using Pradaxa than in patients using other blood thinners. Boehringer Ingelheim, the maker of Pradaxa, has reported 260 fatal bleeding events related to Pradaxa between March 2008 and October 2011.
According to experts, people that are at the most risk are patients who:
- have stomach bleeding or an ulcer
- have existing kidney problems
- are 75 years old or older
- or are also using drugs that increase the risk of bleeding, such as: aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and other blood thinners.
Noticeable Symptoms
Patients that are taking Pradaxa should contact their doctors right away if they notice any of the symptoms below:
- heavy menstrual bleeding
- red or black stools
- coughing up or vomiting blood
- pink or brown urine
- frequent nose bleeds
Patients prescribed Pradaxa should not stop taking the medication before first talking to their doctor, stopping the medication abruptly can lead to an increased risk of stroke. Patients who are about to have surgery, or dental procedures need to talk to their health professionals about Pradaxa use before hand.
Getting Help for an Injury caused by Pradaxa
If you or a loved one has taken Pradaxa and suffered from severe bleeding resulting in hospitalization, or if a loved one died from cerebral hemorrhage or any other life-threatening event caused by excessive bleeding, contact us to get the help you need. You may be entitled to compensation. Contact us by completing a free case evaluation form today. Let us help.
Pradaxa® is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim. This website is not associated with, sponsored by, or affiliated with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or Boehringer Ingelheim.