Pradaxa, the blood-thinning drug made by Boehringer Ingelheim, once had so much promise.
After years of dealing with the unpleasant side effects of Coumadin (a.k.a. Warfarin) – which included brain hemorrhages and bleeding problems – doctors and patients alike were desperate for an alternative blood-thinner that would not put patients at risk.
The German pharmaceutical company, Boehringer Ingelheim, claimed arrived with a solution: the new drug Pradaxa, argued advocates, would solve the Coumadin headaches (both medically literal and metaphorically). Last year, the drug manufacturer spent nearly $0.5 billion to promote the drug, and sales tipped to the $1 billion mark.
Unfortunately, in the rush to dethrone Coumadin, the drug makers and the FDA and other watchdogs overlooked the possibility that Pradaxa could have its own serious side effects that could make Coumadin’s look like a day at the park.
Since Pradaxa won approval in 2010, the statistics have not looked good.
Last year, Pradaxa-related deaths (just the ones reported to the FDA – the actual numbers could have been higher) tallied at 542. There were also nearly 3,800 reports of adverse reactions. Again, these were the reported figures – who knows how many “actual” negative events occurred.
One of the scariest aspects of Pradaxa side effects is that the internal bleeding side effect can be irreversible. That doesn’t mean that the side effect is necessarily a death sentence, but the bleeding can create massive medical complications that a patient may need to wrangle with for years, perhaps for life. Managing that and other side effects could cost patients thousands of dollars in care and untold costs in terms of anxiety and frustration.
Pradaxa holds the unenviable slot of the most lethal legal medication of 2011, according to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, a non-profit which analyzes such unpleasant statistics.
So what can you do if you or someone you care about was hurt by Pradaxa – or if you suspect that someone you love was killed or severely injured due to internal bleeding following a Pradaxa prescription?
Obviously, your medical situation might be complicated and touchy. But if you’re looking for legal assistance, the team here at Carey, Danis & Lowe has the skills and track record to help you feel back in control of your options. Connect with our team for a free and confidential consultation to see whether you may be eligible to participate in a class action lawsuit against Pradaxa’s manufacturer.
