Pradaxa Lawsuits
Heart Attacks and Pradaxa
According to recent reports, patients taking Pradaxa are at a slightly higher risk of heart attack than those who take other blood thinning medications. A finding from Cleveland Clinic researchers determined that patients prescribed Pradaxa experience a 33% higher risk of heart attack or symptoms of heart disease than patients taking warfarin, the drug's chief competitor. Pradaxa, which was developed as a more accessible alternative to warfarin, gained FDA approval in 2010 and has since been prescribed worldwide to persons suffering irregular heart rhythms.
If you or a loved one has experienced heart complications from taking Pradaxa, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. Simply fill out a free, no-risk case evaluation to find out if you are eligible for compensation through a lawsuit.
Adverse Side Effects
While Pradaxa has only been on the market since late 2010, it has already generated considerable controversy for its alleged connections to heart attacks and other side effects. A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that 237 of 20,000 patients taking the drug experienced heart attacks or chest pains, while only 83 patients of 10,514 patients taking warfarin or a placebo experienced those same complications. Heart attacks, as well as other alleged side effects of the blood thinner, can reportedly lead to death.
Persons taking the drug should be made aware of the common signs of a heart attack. If a patient experiences any of the below listed symptoms, they may be having a heart attack and should seek medical assistance immediately.
- Extended, pressurized feeling in the chest
- Impending sense of doom
- Chest pain that extends to shoulder, arm, back or jaw
- Clammy skin
- Continuous pain in the upper abdomen
- Heartburn
- Lightheadedness or fainting
- Nausea
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
In addition to heart attacks, this drug has also been linked to reports of excessive bleeding, which the FDA is currently investigating.
Filing a Lawsuit
Patients prescribed Pradaxa may be at heightened risk for heart attacks which, in the worst cases, can be deadly. Those who have heart attacks while taking Pradaxa often require further medical procedures, which can be expensive, and suffer ongoing emotional anguish and physical discomfort. Fortunately, there may be legal recourse for persons who experience damages as a result of taking Pradaxa. To find out if you qualify for compensation in a lawsuit, get in touch with a lawyer by filling out a no-cost case evaluation.