Pradaxa side effects can not only be dangerous but also deadly.

Pradaxa (dabigatran) belongs to a class of drugs known as New Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs), which are blood thinners.

Pradaxa blocks a clotting protein, allowing blood to continue to smoothly flow. Pradaxa side effects can include bruising easily, bleeding from cuts, or spontaneous nosebleeds.

Some patients report bouts of nausea, abdominal pain, indigestion, heartburn, skin rash, itching, joint pain and swelling, or diarrhea.

Pradaxa side effects can include bleeding that won’t stop. In addition to easy bruising, patients might experience unusual bleeding under the skin, indicated by purple or red pinpoint spots.

Coughing up blood or vomit that has the appearance of coffee grounds means blood could be in the expelled fluids. Urine that looks brown or pink in color could indicate internal bleeding. Women need to be cognizant of experiencing unusually heavy menstrual bleeding.

Gastrointestinal bleeding, rectal bleeding, and brain bleeding need serious and immediate medical attention.

Pradaxa Side Effects Spark Lawsuits

Pradaxa manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim faces thousands of lawsuits filed by patients who say Pradaxa side effects adversely impacted their health.

Boehringer Ingelheim has not admitted wrongdoing, but Pradaxa went on the market years before Praxbind, the blood thinner’s antidote, was introduced. With no antidote to stem the Pradaxa side effects, many patients suffered bleeding episodes that resulted in multiple blood transfusions or even, death.

Pradaxa was introduced with great fanfare through a marketing plan that touted the drug’s ability to give patients “freedom” from blood tests, medication dose adjustments and dietary restrictions, all of which were seen as liabilities of using Warfarin.

Still, Warfarin has been used relatively safely for 60 years. Warfarin thins the blood by decreasing the amount of clotting proteins in the blood. A periodic blood test is required to ensure therapeutic levels are maintained. In the event of an unexpected surgery or accident, Warfarin’s anti-coagulating effects can be stopped with an IV dose of vitamin K. Every emergency room physician in the country is aware of this protocol.

And while Pradaxa has been promoted as a “one size fits all” blood thinner, some medical professionals have said uncontrollable bleeding possibly could be avoided if Pradaxa’s blood levels were monitored.

Blood thinners prevent strokes and dangerous blood clots in the legs that can travel to the lungs, resulting in a pulmonary embolism. People who have an irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation are more at risk of blood clots. Blood thinners also are used to break down blood clots that already exist, and to prevent them from occurring again.

The Journal of the American Medical Association published a study from the University of Pittsburgh that showed nine percent of Pradaxa patients suffered a major bleeding episode, compared with six percent of warfarin users. Pradaxa side effects more often included bleeding in the stomach, intestines, and brain compared with warfarin patients.

If you have suffered Pradaxa side effects that included serious and uncontrollable bleeding, you could qualify to participate in this investigation.