An increasing number of Pradaxa lawsuits are being filed across the country on behalf of patients who suffered major and sometimes fatal bleeding problems after taking the relatively new blood thinner. Since a report emerged earlier this month signaling the filing of the first federal Pradaxa lawsuit, at least five more complaints have been brought …
An increasing number of Pradaxa lawsuits are being filed across the country on behalf of patients who suffered major and sometimes fatal bleeding problems after taking the relatively new blood thinner. Since a report emerged earlier this month signaling the filing of the first federal Pradaxa lawsuit, at least five more complaints have been brought in U.S. District Courts throughout the U.S., including Oklahoma, Kentucky, Tennessee and Louisiana. All of the lawsuits involve similar claims that Pradaxa maker Boehringer Ingelheim sold a dangerous and defective product without providing adequate warnings for consumers or physicians about the risk of Pradaxa bleeding side effects.
Pradaxa (dabigatran) is a relatively new blood thinner, introduced to the U.S. market by Boehringer Ingelheim in October 2010. Pradaxa is commonly prescribed to patients diagnosed with non-valvular atrial fibrillation in order to prevent dangerous blood clots and stroke, and the drug was touted as a superior alternative to the popular warfarin, which has been on the market since 1954. Unfortunately, emerging information about possible Pradaxa side effects has raised serious concerns about the safety of the medication, and significant adverse bleeding events have resulted in Pradaxa lawsuits being filed by patients.
The recent Pradaxa lawsuits come amid growing concerns among medical professionals about the alarming number of adverse event reports associated with the anticoagulant, including hundreds of cases of serious hemorrhages and deaths linked to Pradaxa use. According to a report released by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices earlier this year, more instances of Pradaxa hemorrhage side effects were reported to the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System during the first quarter of 2011 than were reported in association with any other drug monitored by the organization. According to the report, at least 505 instances of Pradaxa bleeding events were reported, compared to 176 cases associated with warfarin (Coumadin), which came in second on the list.
Although Pradaxa was promoted by its manufacturer as a better alternative to warfarin, the drug lacks a method for doctors to control bleeding problems that do occur among patients. Among users of the older, cheaper warfarin, bleeding events can at least be resolved by giving the patient a dose of Vitamin K. In the coming months, the number of Pradaxa injury lawsuits filed is expected to rise as attorneys across the U.S. continue to review new cases for Pradaxa patients who have experienced serious internal bleeding side effects.