For those that have been severely injured from taking the newer anticoagulant drug, Pradaxa, the process of hiring and visiting with an expert Pradaxa lawyer might be very helpful. This helpfulness extends to the patient’s family if the alleged injury resulted in permanent disability or death.

A Pradaxa lawyer is well-versed in all the complications that have been reported with respect to dabigatran—the generic name for this blood-thinner that was commercially released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2010.

Occasionally listed among these reported adverse events are incidents of gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney bleeding, brain hemorrhage and other internal bleeding. Other reported experiences have included heart attack, stroke and death.

The Pradaxa lawyer should be intimately acquainted with the drug’s track record, particularly its performance during its first year on the market. During this first year, 260 patients are alleged to have succumbed to episodes of bleeding and stroke while taking the anticoagulant.

What is known for certain is that the pharmaceutical company introduced this drug as a supposed improvement on warfarin—an older blood-thinner used for decades—when there was no antidote available that could counter its anticoagulant effect in cases of severe bleeding.

Warfarin and Vitamin K

What is clear to the Pradaxa lawyer is that it has been known for some time that in order for warfarin to achieve its blood-thinning objectives, the patient must avoid ingesting foods that are high in Vitamin K such as collard greens, spinach, other leafy greens, broccoli, brussel sprouts, asparagus and soybeans.

It was also known that if an out-of-control internal bleeding situation arose, a rapid infusion of Vitamin K would bring the problem under control.

Pradaxa was marketed as an alternative to warfarin and claimed that no dietary restrictions were necessary. The newer blood-thinner was also advertised as requiring little to no monitoring and a convenient once-per-day dosing.

What was allegedly and purposely omitted by the company during their advertising what that, unlike warfarin, Pradaxa had no available antidote.

It wasn’t until five years had passed with Pradaxa on the market that an antidote was made available through the FDA process. This remedy is known as Praxbind. While it may help get bleeding under control, its late introduction left Pradaxa patients without an antidote for years.

Each Pradaxa lawyer is working to get the best compensation possible for those who suffered excessive bleeding on Pradaxa.

Common Side Effects

All blood-thinning medications can cause internal bleeding, but some patients allege the risk of bleeding with Pradaxa is significantly higher than the drug’s manufacturers represented.

The reason a blood-thinner is recommended in the first place is to prevent other threatening conditions known as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE). These conditions allow for systemic blood clots to form and circulate in the body which can obstruct blood flow as well as respiratory and cardiac processes.