Consumer protection attorneys are investigating potential Pradaxa lawsuits against the pharmaceutical manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim. These lawsuits will likely allege that taking Pradaxa caused the plaintiffs to suffer from cerebral hemorrhage, or brain bleeds.

What is Pradaxa?

Pradaxa, generically known as dabigatran, is a popular anticoagulant on the market. Pradaxa belongs to a new generation of blood thinning medications known as thrombin inhibitors. Thrombin is an enzyme in blood plasma that causes the clotting of blood.

Pradaxa and the other new generation of blood thinners have been aggressively advertised as superior alternatives to the more traditional anticoagulant Warfarin, also known as Coumadin.

Warfarin has been FDA approved for decades and while very effective the medication requires patients to follow strict dietary guidelines and undergo blood monitoring while taking the pills. The new generation of blood thinners do not require patients to follow such strict requirements.

One advantage to taking Warfarin is the fact that the medication has an FDA approved antidote. Patients who begin to experience uncontrolled bleeding while taking Warfarin can be given a dose of vitamin K mixed with fresh or frozen plasma to counter act the blood thinning agents.

Bleeding is a common side effect of all blood thinners but for several years no FDA approved antidotes existed for the new generation of blood thinners. This caused serious risks of injury for patients taking these medications.

Patients who experience uncontrolled brain bleeds or cerebral hemorrhage while taking Pradaxa must wait for the anticoagulant to be flushed from their system through dialysis. This can take several hours and may require multiple blood transfusions.

What Causes Brain Bleeds?

One of the serious side effects associated with taking Pradaxa is brain bleeds, or cerebral hemorrhage. A brain bleed is a type of stroke caused by an artery in the brain bursting. This causes localized bleeding in the surrounding tissue which kills brain cells and causes swelling and increased pressure in the brain.

Because blood thinners increase the risk of uncontrolled bleeding, patients taking these medications may be at a higher risk of cerebral hemorrhage.

Pradaxa Lawsuits

Pradaxa lawsuits allege that taking Pradaxa increases a patient’s risk of experiencing uncontrolled bleeding. In 2011, the US FDA warned consumers that using Pradaxa could create a serious risk of uncontrolled internal bleeding.

Pradaxa lawsuits allege that the defendants Boehringer Ingelheim knew about the increased risks of internal bleeding but failed to warn consumers and the medical community about the increased risks.

Patients who have experienced brain bleeds or cerebral hemorrhage while taking Pradaxa may be eligible to bring a lawsuit against the pharmaceutical manufacturer.

In 2014 Boehringer Ingelheim agreed to a $650 million settlement to settle 4,000 state and federal Pradaxa lawsuits.

Plaintiffs who bring successful lawsuits against the pharmaceutical manufacturer may receive compensation for their pain and suffering along with payment for their past and future medical bills related to Pradaxa injuries. Lawsuits like these help hold pharmaceutical companies accountable to consumers by reminding them that they owe consumers a specific duty of care.