Pradaxa Lawsuit Attorney in Raleigh, NC

Pradaxa is a blood-thinning medication prescribed to reduce the risk of stroke and blood clots in patients with a common heart rhythm abnormality called non-valvular atrial fibrillation. However, Pradaxa is not approved for patients with irregular cardiac rhythms caused by heart valve problems and may cause serious side effects such as severe bleeding. Pradaxa has been linked to thousands of injuries and deaths since it came on the market.

The attorneys at Hardison & Cochran are currently reviewing Pradaxa dangerous drug lawsuits in North Carolina. Thousands of Pradaxa drug injury lawsuits have been filed across in the U.S. and more are expected. Our lawyers are committed to holding the makers of unsafe drugs fully accountable when their products cause preventable harm. If you or your loved one has suffered uncontrolled bleeding after taking Pradaxa, let us look at the details and discuss your legal options free of charge.

If Hardison & Cochran handles your Pradaxa drug injury claim, we will represent you on a contingency fee basis. Our attorneys only receive a legal fee if we are successful in obtaining a drug injury settlement or jury award for you. At Hardison & Cochran, our attorneys are committed to standing up to drug makers that put profits ahead of patient safety. Call today to find out how a Pradaxa drug injury attorney can help you.

FDA Warnings About Pradaxa

2014—The Food and Drug Administration issued a safety advisory saying that the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding was higher among patients taking Pradaxa than for those taking warfarin, another blood thinner, based on a study of 134,000 Medicare patients. Pradaxa was marketed by the manufacturer as an alternative to warfarin. Pradaxa is known generically as dabigatran etexilate mesylate.

2012— The Food and Drug Administration warned that patients with mechanical heart valves should not take Pradaxa. In a safety announcement, the FDA said doctors should switch any patient with a mechanical heart valve who is taking Pradaxa to another anticoagulant medication.

A clinical trial was stopped because patients with mechanical heart valves who took Pradaxa were more likely to experience heart attacks, strokes and blood clots than those taking another blood thinner, warfarin.

2011— The FDA said it was evaluating reports from patients indicating that internal bleeding was an issue with the medication. The FDA approved Pradaxa in 2010, even though there was not an antidote available to neutralize the blood-thinning effects of Pradaxa in patients experiencing life-threatening uncontrolled bleeding.

The FDA said serious and even fatal bleeding is a well-recognized complication of blood thinner therapies, and that the bleeding rates were similar for Pradaxa and warfarin, another anti-coagulant medication based on the results of a clinical trial. The FDA said it is continuing to evaluate whether Pradaxa patients are having a higher rate of internal bleeding that patients using other blood thinners.

2015—The FDA approved Praxbind as an antidote to reverse the anti-coagulant effects of Pradaxa in life-threatening situations.

What Injuries Can Pradaxa Cause?

The FDA said that doctors prescribing Pradaxa should carefully following the dosing guidelines, especially for patients with impaired kidney function, to reduce the risk of internal bleeding.

Are Pradaxa Users at Greater Risk of Internal Bleeding?

Yes, Pradaxa is a blood thinner, and the FDA has warned that patients taking Pradaxa had a greater risk of serious gastrointestinal bleeding, compared to patients taking other blood thinners.

The symptoms of Pradaxa internal bleeding include:

  • Bruises that get larger
  • Unusual bleeding
  • Brownish or pink urine which may indicate blood in urine
  • Blood in stool
  • Vomit containing blood

The FDA compared the risks of stroke, brain bleeds, gastrointestinal bleeding, and heart attacks among 134,000 Medicare patients who were prescribed Pradaxa or warfarin. The FDA found that patients taking Pradaxa had:

  • An increased risk of major gastrointestinal bleeding,
  • A similar risk of heart attack compared to warfarin
  • a reduced risk of stroke, brain bleeds and death compared to warfarin.

Can You Sue the Manufacturer of Pradaxa?

Thousands of consumers who took Pradaxa and suffered serious side effects such as uncontrolled bleeding have filed lawsuits against Boehringer Ingelheim, contending the drug company failed to warn adequately of the high risk of bleeding from taking Pradaxa.

Pradaxa Lawsuit Timeline

In 2014, Boehringer announced a $650 million settlement of approximately 4,100 product liability lawsuits filed by patients who claimed they were harmed by Pradaxa.

More lawsuits have been filed since the initial settlement and another large settlement has been proposed. You also may have a right to sue the manufacturer and seek compensation, if you have suffered.

Drug makers are required to produce and sell drugs that are safe and effective when used as directed and to warn of any adverse effects.

When drug makers produce products that are not adequately tested or fail to warn of the harmful side effects, they may be liable when consumers suffer preventable injuries.

A Pradaxa patient should not have to pay the medical bills that arise due to the harmful side effects of a dangerous or defective drug. The drug manufacturer should bear those costs rather than the patient. If you have suffered serious complications from taking Pradaxa, you may be entitled to file a drug injury lawsuit.

Families who have lost a loved one whose death was caused by uncontrolled bleeding or other side effects of taking Pradaxa may be entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit to hold the manufacturer accountable.

While no amount of money will replace a lost loved one, a Pradaxa settlement can help provide financial security to a family and focus attention on a dangerous drug. That may prevent other families from facing a similar loss.

Pradaxa Blood Thinner Lawsuit

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced in November 2020 that it had reached a global agreement to resolve more than 2,900 pending lawsuits claiming that the blood thinner had undisclosed risks of bleeding and the pharmaceutical company failed to warn patients of the bleeding risks.

How Does the Handling of Pradaxa Lawsuits Differ from a Class Action?

Most of the cases are consolidated as part of the consolidated Pradaxa Litigation Docket in the Judicial District of Hartford, Connecticut.

The proposed global settlement announced recently is expected to provide compensation to thousands of injured Pradaxa patients if enough eligible claimants agree to join the settlement.

The proposed master settlement is intended to resolve all pending Pradaxa product liability cases. It is expected to take until May 2021 to determine whether the participation levels have been met to complete the settlement.

People who have been harmed by Pradaxa file individual lawsuits against the manufacturer. Each individual must prove that the injuries they suffered were caused by caused by taking the anti-coagulant medication. If you reside in North Carolina, an experienced dangerous drug lawyer at Hardison & Cochran can help gather your medical records and other evidence to build a strong case for compensation from the drug maker.

The proposed settlement came after a federal jury in West Virginia ordered the drug maker to pay $1.25 million in compensatory and punitive damages to the family of a woman who alleged Boehringer misrepresented the risks of Pradaxa, causing her to suffer serious internal bleeding. Boehringer Ingelheim asked the court to stay its appeal of the $1.25 million verdict pending a resolution of the settlement.

How Our Pradaxa Drug Injury Lawyers Can Help

An experienced Raleigh drug injury attorney at Hardison & Cochran can review the facts surrounding your Pradaxa complications and discuss your legal options. There is no charge for the case review. We are proud of our work representing North Carolinians who have been harmed by defective medications. Our drug injury lawyers are investigating injuries involving Pradaxa and other blood thinners.

Our attorneys will handle Pradaxa injury lawsuits on a contingent fee basis. Call us today to learn how we may assist you and your family.