Have you or someone you know taken Pradaxa?
German drug maker Boehringer Ingelheim is facing more than 2,000 lawsuits over the blood thinner known as Pradaxa.
What Is Pradaxa?
Pradaxa is the first approved oral alternative to warfarin, a widely used anti coagulant, in over 50 years. It is known to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation not caused by a heart valve problem.
According to Pradaxa’s website the medication works by attaching itself to the thrombin, which is the blood’s central clotting agent. This reduces the ability of the thrombin to from a clot.
The prescription blood-thinner is used to reduce the risk of stroke and blood clots. However, there have been hundreds of adverse events involving hemorrhages that have been reported since its launch in 2012.
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
You should stop using Pradaxa if you experience the following serious side effects:
- Any bleeding that will not stop
- Weakness or fainting feeling
- Bruising or unusual bleeding
- Purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin
- Pink or brown urine
Some less serious side effects may include:
- Stomach pain
- Nausea, diarrhea
- Mild skin rash or itching
Call your doctor immediately if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above.
The Boehringer Ingelheim Lawsuit
Since the FDA approved the drug in October 2010, doctors wrote millions of prescriptions for this new blood thinner.
The company marketed their drug as an easier alternative to warfarin by telling doctors and patients that no medical monitoring was needed with their drug, but failed to stress the risks of Pradaxa.
According to internal company documents released by a US court, Boehiringer Ingelheim attempted to delay and revise the publication of important information regarding Pradaxa.
In reference to an email published by the court, an anonymous employee stated that the documents would harm the company’s marketing efforts and make discussion with regulatory agencies more difficult, and asked if the publication could be avoided.
This is not the only time Boehringer Ingelheim has been under investigation. Last year the company was forced to pay $95 million to federal and state governments for illegally promoting some of its drugs for unapproved uses and doses.