A number of serious side effects of Pradaxa have been linked with Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals’ popular blood thinner.

These side effects of Pradaxa range from excessive bleeding dangers to liver failure to heart attacks.

Pradaxa Background

Pradaxa, a popular blood thinner manufactured and distributed by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmacetuicals, has only grown in popularity across the country since its release in 2010 after being approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Like any medication, Pradaxa comes with a number of complications. However, side effects of Pradaxa may be excessively dangerous—patients who take the drug have reported experiencing a number of permanent, painful complications that have, in some cases, led to death.

A growing number of studies are looking into side effects of Pradaxa, finding links between the popular anticoagulant and dangerous complications.

Pradaxa (also known by its generic name, dabigatran) was introduced to the blood thinner market as a replacement for warfarin, the traditional staple blood thinning drug. Millions of U.S. patients who take blood thinning drugs have switched to Pradaxa in just a few short years.

Pradaxa developers sought to make a few improvements on warfarin. One of the most major changes included getting rid of the need for consistent blood monitoring checkups, which warfarin users had found time consuming. While warfarin users were required to come in for routine blood monitoring, Pradaxa does not require these constant checkups.

Pradaxa is more expensive than warfarin, but despite the price difference, the new drug has only increased in popularity since it was first introduced.

Indeed, so many people have switched to Pradaxa that it is now one of the most popular blood thinners on the market.

This also indicates that an increased number of Americans may be at risk of suffering from serious or fatal Pradaxa bleeding injuries.

Side Effects of Pradaxa

Some Pradaxa side effects include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Heart attacks
• Liver failure
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Death

Excessive bleeding is the most common of these side effects of Pradaxa. Bleeding can, in some cases, lead to severe complications or even death. It is fairly normal for blood thinning drugs like Pradaxa to cause excessive bruising or bleeding. However, in some extreme scenarios, this minor side effect can become dangerous or even fatal.

When a patient is taking a blood thinner, blood clots do not form properly. This can present a huge problem if a patient is in a serious accident or needs emergency surgery. The patient’s body will be unable to create life-saving blood clots in these situations, and will instead continue to bleed excessively and may die.

Blood thinners, old and new, are both linked with these internal bleeding side effects. However, the long-used drug, warfarin, has an antidote to curtail excess bleeding that Pradaxa does not. Administering intravenous vitamin K can counteract the blood thinning side effects of warfarin in emergency situations like an accident or emergency surgery.

Since bleeding side effects of Pradaxa cannot be stopped by antidote to counteract its blood thinning effects, serious GI bleeds can become significantly more dangerous without an antidote available to reverse these effects.

Side Effects of Pradaxa Lawsuits

Lawsuits filed against Pradaxa’s manufacturer, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, claim that the company either knew or should have known about the possibility of serious side effects of Pradaxa, including excessive bleeding injuries, but failed to adequately warn the public and the medical community about these risks.

While filing a Pradaxa lawsuit cannot negate the pain and suffering caused by these severe complications, it can help compensate for financial expenses from medical bills and lost wages incurred by side effects of Pradaxa.

If you or someone you love has taken Pradaxa and subsequently experienced side effects of Pradaxa like bleeding injuries or other major complications, you may be able to file a Pradaxa lawsuit. Families of those who have died from side effects of Pradaxa may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit.