For decades, warfarin was the go-to anticoagulant, the ultimate blood thinner that people around the globe depended upon. Then Pradaxa, a Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals product, came on the market. According to allegations, Pradaxa was overpromoted and the manufacturer failed to adequately warn about the potential risks, including the fact that there was no antidote to Pradaxa bleeding. If people began to “bleed out,” there was no stopping it. This has led to almost 2,000 Pradaxa lawsuits, often filed by the heirs of the victims.
Two adult children filed a Pradaxa lawsuit on Nov. 8, 2013, claiming that their mother, Joann Joyner, suffered lethal Pradaxa side effects. James Garrison Jr. and Judy Garrison joined the expanding Pradaxa multidistrict litigation (MDL) as executors of Joyner’s estate and share their experience.
“Joann Joyner was born on July 13, 1946 and was prescribed and ingested Pradaxa on a continuous basis in the State of Tennessee until or about the time of her death on November 11, 2012,” the Pradaxa lawsuit says. “As a direct and proximate result of using Pradaxa, Joann Joyner experienced a subarachnoid hemorrhage in the State of Tennessee on November 9, 2012, resulting in her premature death on November 11, 2012.”
The grown children share an experience that is shared by many in the Pradaxa MDL. Both Tennessee residents, they claim that their mother’s death was preventable and are including a count of wrongful death in their Pradaxa lawsuit. The drug hasn’t been around for long, only a few years, but there are already so many complaints and allegations of wrongful death that a Pradaxa MDL was quickly formed.
“Pradaxa was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 19, 2010,” the Pradaxa lawsuit says. “The FDA approved two dosages: 75 mg and 150 mg, to be taken twice daily. Pradaxa was the first anticoagulation medication approved in the U.S. in more than 50 years for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.” Before this drug, warfarin was the only option for blood thinning. However, patients taking warfarin have to follow dietary restrictions, so it’s not surprising that when Pradaxa was released, promising that it was just as safe (if not safer) than warfarin and no diet changes were needed, it became quite popular. Also, warfarin patients were required to monitor blood levels, which was considered a nuisance by many.
“Defendants promoted Pradaxa as a novel medicine for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Defendants’ marketing campaign for Pradaxa included promoting it as being more effective than warfarin in preventing stroke and systemic embolism, providing a convenient alternative to warfarin therapy because it does not require blood monitoring or dose adjustments, and does not require any dietary restrictions. Defendants spent significant money in promoting Pradaxa $67,000,000.00 spent during 2010 (although Pradaxa was not approved for sale until October 19, 2010).”
The appeal of Pradaxa was clear. However, the Garrisons claim that “In the course of these direct to consumer advertisements, Defendants overstated the efficacy of Pradaxa with respect to preventing stroke and systemic embolism, failed to adequately disclose to patients that there is no drug, agent or means to reverse the anticoagulation effects of Pradaxa, and that such irreversibility could have permanently disabling, life-threatening and fatal consequences, and that Pradaxa could cause heart attacks or myocardial infarctions.”
>>Pradaxa Side Effects: Learn More
The Garrisons also say that their mother was a victim of Pradaxa marketing. “Prior to Joann Joyner’s prescription of Pradaxa the promotional materials described herein. Prior to Joann Joyner’s prescription of Pradaxa, Joann Joyner became aware of Pradaxa, Joann Joyner’s prescribing physician received promotional materials and information from sales representatives of Defendants that Pradaxa was more effective than warfarin in reducing strokes in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and was more convenient, without also adequately informing prescribing physicians that there was no reversal agent that could stop or control bleeding in patients taking Pradaxa, and that Pradaxa could cause heart attacks or myocardial infarctions.”
A Sudden Loss
Joyner died of alleged Pradaxa complications unexpectedly. According to the Pradaxa lawsuit, she “was prescribed Pradaxa. Thereafter, while residing in the State of Tennessee, Joann Joyner suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage on or about November 11, 2012, causing her to be hospitalized at Holston Valley Medical Center where she later died of her injuries on November 11, 2012, all of which were directly and proximately caused by her use of Pradaxa.”
The brother-sister team is suing for failure to warn, design defect, negligence, negligent misrepresentation/fraud, breach of warranties, negligence per se, fraudulent concealment, and punitive damages.
The Pradaxa lawsuit is James Garrison Jr., et al v. Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc., MDL No. 2385, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
Do You Know Someone Hurt by Pradaxa Complications?
If you or someone you love experienced drug complications, you might have a Pradaxa legal claim. Find out more when visiting the Pradaxa Internal Bleeding Class Action Lawsuit Investigation today. Submit your story, and a lawyer will contact you if you qualify for a free Pradaxa claim review.
