Pradaxa Injury Attorneys
Pradaxa (dabigatran) is a fairly new blood thinner which is sometimes prescribed as an alternative to older anticlotting drugs such as warfarin. Pradaxa is easier to use, but patients and many doctors are typically not aware of the heightened bleeding and heart attack risks that come with the drug. If you have suffered Pradaxa side effects, please talk to a Pradaxa injury attorney at The Hickey Law Firm, P.A. right away.
Pradaxa Bleeding Events
Pradaxa prevents stroke by preventing the formation of blood clots. A side effect of anticoagulants is spontaneous bleeding and excessive bleeding when there is trauma or surgery.
Spontaneous Pradaxa bleeding can include:
- Internal bleeding
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke)
Bleeding from trauma, such as a fall, can become so excessive as to turn what would have been a very minor injury into a fatal bleeding event.
Pradaxa vs. Other Blood Thinners
All blood thinners can cause the bleeding events listed above, but for older anticoagulant drugs there are quick and effective reversal strategies including antidotes which can be administered to neutralize the drug.
There is no reversal agent for Pradaxa and no way to get the blood clotting again quickly so that bleeding can be controlled. Pradaxa can be removed from the body with dialysis, but that takes several hours and only removes up to 60% of the drug. Many doctors do not even know to consider dialysis when a patient presents with Pradaxa bleeding.
Pradaxa Heart Attack Risk
A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in January, 2012, found that patients who take Pradaxa have a 33% greater risk of heart attack or acute coronary syndrome than those who take warfarin, enoxaparin, or a placebo.
If you or someone you love has been injured by Pradaxa, please call our Pradaxa injury attorneys at 1-800-215-7117 or submit an online questionnaire. The initial consultation with a Pradaxa injury lawyer is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, in most cases we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds. In many cases, a personal injury lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. Please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.