Concerns about Pradaxa (dabigatran), which is manufactured by Boehringer Ingleheim Pharmaceuticals continue to mount. This drug was approved to be marketed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in October 2010. Since that time, over 100 bleeding deaths have been reported to the agency through its Adverse Event Database.
Pradaxa (dabigatran) is an anticoagulant medication used in patients who have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF), which is also known as an irregular heartbeat. This condition is often associated with chest pain, palpitations, and congestive heart failure. AF is also believed to increase a patient’s risk of having a stroke as an irregular heartbeat can allow blood to become stagnant which can lead to clotting. Clots that travel to the brain can cause serious injuries including strokes.
In March 2012, Reuters reported about the death of an elderly man, who was taking Pradaxa (dabigatran), and suffered a massive brain hemorrhage. Doctors stated that the man become injured through what was considered to be a routine fall. What was initially diagnosed as superficial areas of hemorrhage turned into massive bleeding after several hours, which eventually lead to the patient’s death.
Bleeding injuries and deaths linked to Pradaxa have been on the rise. An article in the Journal of Neurosurgerynotes that there is currently no effective antidote to reverse the anticoagulant effects of dabigatran in the event of an emergency.
If you or a loved one has taken Pradaxa (dabigatran) and have suffered an injury as a result, contact us to talk with one of our experienced product liability/personal injury attorneys to discuss your legal options.