Pradaxa Internal Bleeding Risks & Symptoms
By Amanda Antell
The blood-thinning drug Pradaxa (dabigatran) has been proven to cause severe internal bleeding and serious injury by multiple studies. While competing anti-coagulants on the market, including Coumadin (warfarin), also carry these bleeding risks, Pradaxa does not have an antidote to stop the bleeding like these other drugs do.
Created by Boehringer Ingelheim for the purpose of reducing the risk of stroke, Pradaxa was approved for consumers in October 2010. However, since its release, trials have found that up to 16.6% of users may experience internal bleeding from Pradaxa. For patients over 75 years old, the risk is even higher. According to recent disclosures by Boehringer, several hundred patients have already died due to the internal bleeding side effects of Pradaxa.
Because of the powerful effects Pradaxa has on the body, this drug is only prescribed for a specific group of people who are believed to be at a greater risk of having a stroke. These individuals suffer from various cases of abnormal heart beat; in particular, non-valvular atrial fibrillation. According to the FDA, this is the most common type of heart rhythm dysfunction, resulting in the wide spread use of Pradaxa.
During its first full year on the market in 2010, U.S. sales of Pradaxa topped $10 billion. Feeling confident in this, Boehringer launched an intense advertising campaign that nearly went up to $500 million. The advertisements were primarily aimed at the general public, as opposed to physicians and other healthcare providers.
In the following year of Pradaxa’s release, the FDA was notified of 542 deaths directly attributed to the prescribed use of Pradaxa. Additionally, the FDA received reports of an additional 3,781 patients who experienced adverse side effects while using Pradaxa. In these reports made to the FDA, Pradaxa has caused severe, life-threatening and even life-ending internal bleeding in men and women taking the medication, following prescription instruction. Even when the patient was determined to have internal bleeding from taking Pradaxa and was taken off the drug, the bleeding did not always stop.
Common symptoms of Pradaxa internal bleeding include but not limited to the following:
- External bleeding (through orifices like the mouth or nose)
- Bruising (not attributable to any external cause)
- Coughing up blood
- Brown or pink tint to urine
- Joint pain
- Joint swelling
- Vomiting (producing an expulsion with consistency of coffee grounds)
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Weakness
Other more severe side effects of Pradaxa could include: cerebral hemorrhaging, internal bleeding, and ulcers.
This is not a complete list of side effects; if you are experiencing any abnormality in your body and are currently taking Pradaxa, talk to your doctor immediately.
If you believe that you or a loved one may have been injured by Pradaxa, please visit Pradaxa Internal Bleeding Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. There, you may submit your claim and if you qualify for legal action, a specialized Pradaxa injury lawyer will get in touch with you immediately. You will be guided through the litigation process with no extra charges or out-of-pocket fees. These Pradaxa lawyers do not get paid until you do.
Updated April 25th, 2013
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