The blood thinner Pradaxa is prescribed to prevent blood clots and stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation or who have undergone surgery.

Unfortunately, repeated warnings have now associated the blood thinner with severe internal and uncontrollable bleeding complications.

Risk of Pradaxa Bleeding Complications

Pradaxa was brought to the market with much anticipation by its manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, who promoted it as being a safer alternative to warfarin.

Used primarily by people who suffer from atrial fibrillation, or an irregular heartbeat, Pradaxa is supposed to minimize the risk of suffering from a stroke and other serious problems.

Yet, one of the major concerns regarding Pradaxa side effects is that if an internal bleed is discovered, there is no known Pradaxa antidote as there is for warfarin.

If a patient overdoses on warfarin and starts to bleed, the effects can be quickly reversed with a dose of Vitamin K. However, if a patient overdoses on Pradaxa and starts bleeding, there’s nothing anyone can do but wait for their kidneys to process the Pradaxa and excrete it in the urine — a process that takes hours at best, potentially long if Pradaxa has slowed kidney function, as many people expect it can.

This lack of a reversal agent for Pradaxa complications make Pradaxa bleeding events far more deadly.

People at the highest risk for uncontrollable Pradaxa bleeding include patients who are 75 years old or older, have existing kidney problems, have stomach bleeding or an ulcer, or who are taking other drugs that increase the risk of bleeding, including aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and other blood thinners

Pradaxa Lawsuits

Patients who suffer injuries after taking Pradaxa have legal options. When a pharmaceutical drug like Pradaxa is responsible for patient injuries, patients can sue the drug manufacturer. These product liability lawsuits seek to hold manufacturers accountable for their dangerous and defective products.

Patients who successfully sue can recover compensation from the manufacturer. This can cover the cost of medical bills, lost wages from time off work, and the pain and suffering experienced by patients with serious medical issues.

Thousands of patients have already filed Pradaxa lawsuits. These lawsuits contend that Boehringer Ingelheim failed to warn doctors and patients about the increased risk of bleeding related injuries associated with the anticoagulant. They also contend that the company defectively designed Pradaxa in a manner that made the drug unsafe for patients.

In May 2014, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals agreed to settle around 4,000 claims regarding Pradaxa for approximately $650 million. The Pradaxa settlement covers claims in both state and federal courts. In agreeing to the settlement, Boehringer Ingelheim did not admit to any liability.

Although Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals agreed to settle thousands of Pradaxa lawsuits, the drug maker is still facing thousands more claims in federal court, alleging that users suffered severe and often fatal bleeding problems after using the controversial anticoagulant.

There are 2,613 Pradaxa lawsuits are currently consolidated in a multidistrict litigation known as In re: Pradaxa (Dabigatran Etexilate) Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2385, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.

In general, Pradaxa lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.