Pradaxa lawsuits may be an effective way for individuals to seek compensation for life threatening bleeding events allegedly associated with Pradaxa, an anticoagulant drug.

Pradaxa (dabigatran) is a blood thinner, or anti-coagulant drug, manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. The drug is a direct thrombin inhibitor and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2010.

Pradaxa was released to compete directly with warfarin, an anticoagulant which has been the industry standard for over 60 years. Both patients and physicians trust warfarin due to its long history, and newer blood thinners have to compete with the drug.

Pradaxa was marketed as superior to warfarin because it requires less blood monitoring and fewer dietary changes, both of which are common complaints among warfarin patients.

Despite bold marketing proclamations of superiority, numerous Pradaxa lawsuits have been filed over the drug’s alleged tendency to cause uncontrolled bleeding. In the drug’s first three months on the market, the FDA received 307 reports of bleeding events in Pradaxa patients. Within the first month on the market, there were allegedly 260 reported deaths associated with bleeding events in Pradaxa patients.

In December 2011, the FDA responded to these reports with a safety warning, notifying consumers and physicians of the potential risks for Pradaxa patients.

Bleeding events and complications reported by Pradaxa users include internal bleeding, kidney bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, heart attack, stroke, brain hemorrhage, and death. Symptoms of Pradaxa internal bleeding can vary depending on the location and severity of the bleed, but any unusual bleeding may be a sign of a more serious problem.

In October 2015, nearly four years after the FDA first released their safety alert, the FDA approved a Pradaxa antidote known as Praxbind. The release of Praxbind makes Pradaxa the only modern blood thinner with an FDA approved antidote, increasing the safety of patients should an uncontrolled bleed occur.

However, numerous patients experienced life threatening bleeding events before Praxbind was released, and many complications resulted in death. Before Praxbind was released, uncontrolled bleeding had to be managed via dialysis and blood transfusions, which may or may not be effective in controlling a Pradaxa bleed.

Many patients who experienced an uncontrolled bleeding event while on Pradaxa have filed Pradaxa lawsuits in an attempt to recover compensation. Pradaxa lawsuits often claim that Boehringer did not sufficiently warn patients and physicians of the risks associated with the blood thinner. Other Pradaxa lawsuits claim that Boehringer knew about the risks but did not notify patients, and instead released misleading safety materials. Although the claims in Pradaxa lawsuits may vary, the goal remains the same: recovering compensation for dangerous, life-threatening bleeding events.

Boehringer has already settled thousands of Pradaxa lawsuits, but additional litigation may be an option for individuals who did not participate in the first settlement. If you or a loved one experienced an internal bleed after taking Pradaxa, and did not participate in the first Pradaxa settlement, you may be eligible for a Pradaxa lawsuit. Pradaxa lawsuits could help recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, wrongful death, and more.