Sarah Mirando  |  July 6, 2012

Category: Pharmaceuticals

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Pradaxa Bleeding Lawsuits Prompt Boehringer to Work on Antidote

By Mike Holter

Pradaxa A series of Pradaxa lawsuits claiming the blood-thinning drug caused severe internal bleeding and even death in some patients has finally prompted German drug maker Boehringer Ingelheim to begin working on an antidote to prevent fatal Pradaxa bleeding events. The announcement is welcome news to doctors, who have voiced concern that once internal bleeding begins in Pradaxa patients, there is little action that can be taken to stop it. Plaintiffs in Pradaxa lawsuits say Boehringer did not adequately warn consumers or their doctors about the risk of irreversible bleeding effects associated with the drug, which is one of the only anti-blood-clotting drugs on the market without a reversal agent to help doctors stop a patient from bleeding. 
Boehringer revealed in November 2011 that about 260 cases of fatal bleeding had been linked to Pradaxa, a new anticoagulant drug used to prevent strokes for those with atrial fibrillation. The drug maker said the number of fatal Pradaxa side effects is fewer than what would have been expected if patients had been treated with the standard blood-thinning drug warfarin, which Boehringer is trying to replace. Pradaxa lawsuit patients and Pradaxa lawyers say this is not enough, though, and that Boehringer should be held liable for failing to adequately warn the public about the risk of severe internal bleeding associated with Pradaxa. A Pradaxa bleeding antidote is too little too late for those whose health has already been compromised by Pradaxa, or for those who lost a loved one to Pradaxa’s side effects. Many of these victims have already filed Pradaxa lawsuits or Pradaxa wrongful death lawsuits against Boehringer seeking compensation for their medical expenses, pain and suffering.
Pradaxa Bleeding Lawsuits Grow
The number of Pradaxa bleeding lawsuits continues to grow as patients and their families realize Pradaxa was responsible for their or their loved one’s paid and suffering. Many Pradaxa lawsuit Plaintiffs say they were never informed of the risk of developing life-threatening injuries nor did they know of the dangers of Pradaxa compared to other blood-thinning medications. Had they known about the risk for irreversible Pradaxa bleeding, they never would have taken the medication, the lawsuits claim. With the help of a Pradaxa lawyer, these patients are seeking to hold Boehringer Ingelheim liable for their Pradaxa injuries, claiming the drug maker did not adequately warn about the risk of Pradaxa side effects or the lack of a reversal agent for Pradaxa bleeding.
 
Pradaxa Bleeding Symptoms
 
Pradaxa was connected to more deaths in 2011 than any other legal drug. Research shows that 16% of Pradaxa users experience internal bleeding, and of those, 17.4% who had surgery while on the drug experienced major bleeding during surgery. Pradaxa’s alleged flaw is that it may do its job too well. Pradaxa is in the anticoagulant family of drugs and stops blood from clotting. It’s a common treatment for atrial fibrillation. The issue is that once you have Pradaxa in your system you are at a much greater risk of experiencing uncontrollable internal bleeding or hemorrhage. Symptoms of internal bleeding include:
* bruising without cause
* frequent nose bleeds
* bleeding from the gums
* discolored urine
* red or black stools
* coughing up blood
* vomiting blood
More serious Pradaxa side effects include bilirubin and hepatic dysfunction, myocardial infarction, anaphylactic shock, and elevated liver transaminases. As many as 35% of Pradaxa users experience gastrointestinal problems such as indigestion, acid reflux, abdominal pain, and stools with a tar-like substance.
If you were diagnosed with internal bleeding or hemorrhage after taking or while on Pradaxa, you or a family member should contact a Pradaxa Internal Bleeding law firm immediately to see if you have a claim for compensation.
 
Pradaxa users have filed lawsuits alleging that the anticoagulant drug has severe undisclosed side effects which have killed patients. Pradaxa internal bleeding, wrongful death, or hemorrhage lawsuits typically allege that Boehringer Ingelheim did not adequately inform patients and their prescribing doctors of the risks of uncontrollable internal bleeding and hemorrhage associated with Pradaxa usage, nor did Boehringer Ingelheim warn or otherwise advise on how to intervene and stabilize a Pradaxa patient should a bleed occur after an accident or during surgery. Boehringer Ingelheim has stated that they are working on an antidote or treatment to help doctors when a Pradaxa patient is admitted with hemorrhage or severe internal bleeding, but this does not protect users currently taking, or who have already taken, the drug.
 
If you or a family member are taking, or were taking Pradaxa, and experienced internal bleeding or hemorrhage, you may be able to file a Pradaxa lawsuit to help you pay for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and recovery. Only a qualified Pradaxa hemorrhage or internal bleeding lawsuit lawyer can determine if you have a case. In addition, the spouse of a Pradaxa victim of internal bleeding or hemorrhage may be able to join the lawsuit as a co-plaintiff and sue for “loss of consortium.”
 
If you would like more information about filing a Pradaxa internal bleeding class action lawsuit, would like to speak with experienced Pradaxa lawyers who are actively filing internal bleeding cases, or would like to file a Pradaxa hemorrhage personal injury lawsuit just go to the Pradaxa Internal Bleeding Class Action Lawsuit Investigation page. Pradaxa attorneys are actively investigating all claims regarding internal bleeding, wrongful death, hemorrhage and other problems which may have been caused by Pradaxa (dabigatran), warfarin (coumadin), blood thinner or other anti-coagulant medications. Remember, the Pradaxa lawyers who work with Top Class Actions will tell you if you have a case for free. There’s never any charge for an initial consultation with an attorney filing a Pradaxa lawsuit that you find through Top Class Actions.  They don’t get paid unless you do.

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Updated July 5th, 2012

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