Pradaxa, one of the most popular blood thinners taking over for the more traditional drug warfarin, has been associated with serious risks including major internal bleeding problems.

Pradaxa Background

Pradaxa (dabigatran) was approved as a replacement for the traditional anticoagulant warfarin in 2010. Since it was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and released onto the market, Pradaxa has only increased in popularity.

This growing popularity may be partially attributed to the fact that Pradaxa, unlike warfarin, does not require constant blood monitoring checkups.

Though Pradaxa is more expensive than warfarin, many of its users feel that the extra cost is worth avoiding additional trips to the doctor for blood monitoring.

Serious side effects like Pradaxa bleeding problems can affect a large number of people, considering the extensive popularity and usage of the drug. After only a couple of years on the market, sales had skyrocketed and millions of people switched to using Pradaxa.

Pradaxa Bleeding Problems

One of the most dangerous Pradaxa side effects is internal bleeding problems. Internal bleeding is a side effect of all anticoagulants, but there is an additional risk associated with Pradaxa. This is due to the fact that warfarin has an antidote that is able to counteract bleeding complications in emergencies, but Pradaxa has no such antidote.

Internal bleeding problems from an anticoagulant occur when bleeding from an accident or disease becomes extreme. Usually, in a bleeding emergency, the body helps to counteract this by clotting in order to stem the bleeding. This does not heal the problem, but allows the body to retain blood long enough for medical attention to arrive.

However, when a patient is using a blood thinner, the blood cannot clot in this manner, so bleeding becomes excessive and much more dangerous.

The lack of an antidote means that Pradaxa bleeding problems can become extreme or even life-threatening and are much more difficult to treat.

Other serious Pradaxa side effects that have been reported include heart attacks, liver failure, and even death. The most common of serious side effects, however, is internal bleeding, which can lead to brain hemorrhaging or death.

Pradaxa Lawsuits

Because of Pradaxa’s link with major internal bleeding problems, thousands of patients have responded by filing lawsuits.

These lawsuits allege that Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, the drug’s manufacturer, failed to adequately warn the public and the medical community about the potentially life-threatening risks associated with their drug.

Lawsuits claim that Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals either knew or should have known about these serious side effects, and therefore had a responsibility to convey these risks properly to consumers.

Had the company warned consumers about these risks, plaintiffs claim they would have chosen an alternative and therefore would have avoided these Pradaxa side effects entirely.

If you or someone you know has taken Pradaxa and has experienced any of the above symptoms (such as uncontrollable internal bleeding or hemorrhaging) as a result, you may be able to file a Pradaxa lawsuit.