Patients taking Pradaxa and other anticoagulants have to be vigilant for any signs of internal bleeding, especially when taking new generation blood thinner medications.

Until recently, Pradaxa had no widespread available reversal agent, making internal bleeding a potentially fatal complication.

Pradaxa was the first in a series of new generation anticoagulants which were specifically designed to compete against each other and the more common blood thinner medication, warfarin.

However unlike warfarin, none of them have an easy access internal bleeding treatment.  Pradaxa does have an antidote, Praxbind, however it is only available in hospitals.

Approved in 2010, Pradaxa was the first blood thinner medication to be approved to go to the American market since warfarin’s approval in the 1950s.

Overview of Anticoagulant Internal Bleeding

Like other anticoagulants, Pradaxa works by inhibiting the body’s clotting ability to reduce the chances of blood clot formation and are typically prescribed to patients with atrial fibrillation or are at high risk for stroke.

By dilating blood flow, it allows overall improvement for the body’s circulation process.

However this process also inhibits the body from recovering from internal bleeding injuries, which has left many patients in the hospital.

Until Praxbind was approved in October 2015, there was no internal bleeding treatment available for Pradaxa patients. They often needed emergency surgery to stop internal bleeding.

There are a number of internal bleeding causes that range from physical trauma to taking a blood thinner medication like Pradaxa. Internal bleeding is a serious medical injury that occurs when internal tissue, organs or cavities begin bleeding inside the body.

Even though there are a number of internal bleeding causes, it occurs when a blood vessel becomes damaged and the body cannot repair itself.

Usually the body recovers on its own from internal bleeding occurrences, but anticoagulants like Pradaxa make minor bleeding events turn into life threatening situations.

In most cases of internal bleeding caused by trauma or a blood thinner medication, emergency surgery is often needed. The type of surgery depends on the location of the internal bleeding, and surgeons typically seal the ends of any leaking blood vessels.

Internal bleeding treatment surgeries normally conducted are:

• Exploratory Laparotomy Surgery: Internal Bleeding in the Abdominal Cavity
• Thoracotomy Surgery: Internal bleeding in the Heart and Lungs
• Craniotomy Surgery: Internal Bleeding in the Brain
• Fasciotomy Surgery: Internal Bleeding in the Thigh

If not treated in time, each of these internal bleeding injuries can potentially be fatal so patients taking Pradaxa or any other blood thinner medication should be vigilant for any unusual symptoms.

Patients should seek emergency treatment immediately if they experience abdominal pain or swelling, chest pain, blood in stool or urine, vomiting blood or skin color changes while taking Pradaxa.

At this point in time, Pradaxa has been linked to thousands of deaths worldwide.

Many surviving patients complained that the internal bleeding risk was not adequately described on the drug’s warning label.

Pradaxa patients who suffered internal bleeding injuries may be able to file legal action against Boehringer Ingelheim for failing to warn them against Pradaxa internal bleeding complications.

Potential claimants should contact a specialized lawyer to determine their eligibility for a Pradaxa internal bleeding lawsuit.