The popular blood thinning drug Pradaxa has been associated with Pradaxa defects that can cause serious side effects, from internal bleeding to heart attacks.

Pradaxa Basics

Pradaxa (known generically as dabigatran) was introduced to the blood thinner market as a replacement for warfarin, the traditional staple blood thinning drug.

Pradaxa is an anticoagulant manufactured and distributed by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals.

Any medication comes with certain side effects, and in that sense, Pradaxa is no different. However, Pradaxa defects may be unusually and excessively dangerous.

Indeed, patients who take the drug have reported experiencing a number of permanent, painful complications that have, for some, led to death.

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

One of the most major differences between Pradaxa and the staple blood thinner, warfarin, is that manufacturers do not require blood monitoring checkups for Pradaxa.

Unlike warfarin, therefore, Pradaxa does not require constantly coming into the doctor for these checkups, adding a level of convenience to the new, if more expensive, medication.

Despite the price difference, since its FDA approval in 2010, Pradaxa has grown dramatically in popularity across the country, and is now considered one of the most popular anticoagulants available.

Millions of U.S. patients who take blood thinning drugs have switched to Pradaxa in just a few short years. 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

The most common of these serious Pradaxa defects is excessive bleeding. Bleeding can, in some cases, lead to severe complications or even death.

Of course, it should be noted that it is fairly normal for blood thinning drugs like Pradaxa to cause bruising or bleeding.

However, given the life-saving function of blood clots in some extreme scenarios like car accidents or emergency surgeries, this relatively minor side effect can become dangerous or even fatal.

The traditional blood thinner drug, warfarin, has an antidote available to counteract its excessive bleeding side effect. Until recently, Pradaxa has no such antidote to counteract these kinds of Pradaxa defects.

Pradaxa Defects Lawsuits

Lawsuits filed against Pradaxa’s manufacturer, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, claim that the company either knew or should have known about the possibility of Pradaxa defects, including excessive bleeding injuries.

Lawsuits allege that, despite this knowledge, the company failed to adequately warn the public and the medical community about Pradaxa defects.

While filing a Pradaxa defects 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.