Our Florida Pradaxa claims law firm is continuing to investigate claims on behalf of patients who have developed irreversible. Pradaxa has been prescribed to many Americans who suffer from atrial fibrillation or AFib. AFib is an irregular heart rate that affects blood flow. Symptoms include heart palpitations, shortness of breath and weakness. For many, AFib episodes come and go. For other the symptoms are chronic. Treatment for AFib includes medications and interventions using cardiac catheter radio-frequency.
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AFib is associated with an increased risk for both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. In fact, of the 700,000 Americans who suffered a stroke last year, 15% had AFib. For many years the blood thinning medication Coumadin has been used to reduce the risk of strokes of those with AFib. Coumodin, like every medication, has a risk to benefit and requires frequent blood test to adjust the dosage and cannot be taken with certain foods.
In October 2010 the FDA speedily approved a new medication called Dabigatran or Pradaxa for use by AFib patients to prevent strokes. Its manufacturer, Boehringer Ingelheim, spent millions to market Paradaxa as a safer and more efficient alternative to Coumadin. They claimed that Pradaxa did not require the same monitoring as Coumadin and would have fewer food interactions. It all sounded good. Unfortunately, Pradaxa is proving to be defective and more dangerous than Coumadin.
In its first weeks on the market, there were more than 300 adverse reactions reported to the FDA. By December 2011 over 500 people have reportedly died, mostly from internal bleeding as a result of taking Pradaxa.
The signs of Pradaxa’s dangers were apparently evident, but ignored during it’s clinical trials. Studies showed that patients over 75 years old who took the drug had a higher risk for gastrointestinal bleeds. All blood thinners, including Aspirin and Coumadin, can cause bleeding events that can be treated simply by stopping the medication. A Pradaxa bleed, on the other hand, is not reversible and there currently is no antidote. Pradaxa did not warn users of the danger of irreversible bleeding.
So far 130 law suits have been filed against Pradaxa for cerebral hemorrhages, kidney bleeds, heart attacks and death. This has not slowed Pradaxa down as it announced that is had annual sales in excess of $1 billion dollars.
Our Pradaxa claims lawyers are working with the national Pradaxa litigation pending in the Southern District of Illinois. If you have taken Pradaxa and suffered a bleeding injury to the brain, GI system or rectum, contact our offices for a free consultation about your legal rights. Our dangerous prescription drug lawyers are dedicated to helping victims and their families who have been harmed by Pradaxa and its manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim.
