Many people need to take a blood thinner medication when a doctor determines that their risk of suffering a clot threatens their future health. In the past, doctors have typically prescribed classic blood thinners, such as Warfarin, that reduces the body’s ability to clot blood and thus reduces the chances for a future heart attack or stroke.
As with any other medication, there are significant risks of adverse side effects. Typically, with blood thinning medication, the drug reduces the body’s ability to stop bleeding in the event of a cut and allows the body to bruise more easily in the case of minor injuries.
However, starting with the drug’s release in 2010, thousands of patients suffered significant, uncontrollable internal bleeding due to their taking of Pradaxa, a particular type of blood thinner. It was not until 2015 that Pradaxa’s manufacturer discovered a way to reverse this bleeding. This lack of a cure caused thousands of people to suffer needlessly. If you took this drug between 2010 and 2015, a Pradaxa lawyer could help you press your rights in court and pursue compensation for your injuries.
Typical Pradaxa Side Effects
Pradaxa is manufactured by the German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim. Their website touts the drug as a new alternative to Warfarin for which a patient does not need to submit to regular blood testing, nor do they need to alter their diet. As a result, thousands of people nationwide began to take Pradaxa for their blood thinning needs.
The website also mentions some side effects that people can expect from taking Pradaxa. These include:
- Headaches
- Bruising
- Blood when coughing
- Pink or red urine
- Unexpected pain or swelling in the joints
These risk factors are especially high for people over the age of 75. In general, these are all symptoms of internal bleeding that the body is unable to stop due to the lack of clotting ability.
As a whole, these side effects were viewed as an acceptable risk when compared with the potentially life-saving benefits of Pradaxa. However, what the public did not know was that Pradaxa was responsible for many instances of unstoppable internal bleeding that led to many severe injuries and deaths.
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What did Boehringer Ingelheim Know About Pradaxa’s Side Effects?
In 2014, Pradaxa’s manufacturing company came to a settlement with thousands of people who suffered severe injuries or deaths resulting from Pradaxa’s side effects. These payments totaled $650 million.
That same year, the British Medical Journal published an article alleging that Pradaxa’s manufacturer withheld information that monitoring a patient’s plasma levels during treatment could reduce the risk of a catastrophic bleed. Since one major perceived benefit of Pradaxa was no routine blood testing, it is admittedly not surprising that they chose to withhold this data.
Even though many cases involving the use of Pradaxa have already reached settlement, new potential plaintiffs come forward every day. People who suffered severe internal bleeding after taking Pradaxa should contact a lawyer immediately.
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How a Pradaxa Attorney Could Help
Anyone who suffered a significant internal injury after taking Pradaxa has the right to pursue compensation for their damages. Courts have already accepted a settlement made between Pradaxa’s manufacturer and patients that paid out hundreds of millions of dollars, and the potentially deadly side effects of this drug are well-known.
Anyone who has suffered these side effects and not yet filed a case should contact a Pradaxa lawyer immediately. A skilled attorney could help you learn if you have an actionable case, evaluate the effect of the drug on your health, and seek financial restitution in court. Contact a lawyer today to discuss your case.
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