New research out of the Cleveland Clinic suggests that the anti-clotting drug, Pradaxa, may increase the risk for acute coronary syndrome by as much as 33% over a placebo or other similar drugs, like Lovenox (Warfarin).
The study, which examined 30,514 patients, was published in the Archives of Internal Medicines’ January issue. It’s not the first study to suggest that Pradaxa might significantly increase risks for heart problems and bleeding.
The European Medicines Agency as well as agencies in Japan and Australia have issued safety warnings for Pradaxa. The European Group now warns doctors to examine the kidney functioning of patients before they prescribe the drug. One doctor, writing for WebMD.com, said that this latest study suggests that Pradaxa might increase lifetime heart attack risk by 5% over a decade.
All Bad News for Pradaxa?
As with most clinical studies on pharmaceuticals, subtleties abound!
For instance, defenders of Pradaxa say that the drug has demonstrated power to prevent stroke in certain patients with atrial fibrillation. Critics also note that the risk for heart attack increases by just 0.25% annually. Thus, headlines to the effect of “Pradaxa leads to 33% higher risk of heart attack” radically overstate the problem and undersell the drug’s potential utility.
Perhaps. Then again, perhaps not.
Reports suggest that Pradaxa might increase the risk for heart disease symptoms by rupturing plaques in cardiac arteries. And an editorial in the January 2012 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine hammered home the big takeway: Pradaxa has been subject of multiple safety related “red flags” in the past.
Have you been injured by Pradaxa or other pharmaceuticals?
If you or someone you care about has been injured – or has suffered a heart attack or heart disease symptoms – while taking Pradaxa, you may be entitled to significant liability compensation.
To get answers about whether you might be entitled to money for your medical bills, lost wages, and other costs stemming from Pradaxa side effects, talk to the plaintiffs’ litigation team of Carey, Danis, and Lowe in St. Louis. Our firm represents plaintiffs throughout the United States in class-action and consumer protection suits. We are well-equipped to handle even complicated pharmaceutical cases, and we have numerous medical doctors and nurses on our staff. Call us toll free at 800-721-2519 for a free consultation today.
