Pradaxa® lawyers at Michigan Injury Lawyers can help patients and their family members injured by this blood-thinning medication. More than 1,500 cases have already been filed against drug manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim as a result of Pradaxa® complications that caused serious injuries or fatalities. If you or a loved one has been harmed, call Michigan Injury Lawyers today to speak with a member of our legal team in a free, no-obligation consultation.
Pradaxa® Complications
Pradaxa® is a stroke-prevention medication that works by thinning the blood. It is frequently prescribed to patients with atrial fibrillation, or irregular heartbeat as it is more commonly known.
Pradaxa® was the first of this type of stroke-prevention medication to be developed and released since a stroke prevention medication called warfarin first came onto the market in the 1950s. While it has been widely used for decades, warfarin requires routine doctor firsts and blood tests and necessitates a restricted diet. Pradaxa® was supposed to provide a better solution, but it turned out to be more dangerous in many ways than warfarin.
Although Pradaxa® was not released until 2010, thousands of complaints had already flooded into the Food and Drug Administration by 2011. In just one year, the Institute of Safe Medication Practices reports that 2,367 patients taking Pradaxa® had experienced a hemorrhage they believe occurred due to the medication. Unlike warfarin, there is no way to stop a hemorrhage and no antidote when someone begins bleeding uncontrollably due to Pradaxa®.
The hemorrhages can be fatal, and in fact 542 of the complaints over the course of 2011 indicated that death had occurred. Another 644 complaints linked Pradaxa® to a stroke that had occurred, and 291 patients alleged that Pradaxa® use was a cause of renal failure.
Pradaxa® Lawsuits Due to Dangerous Side Effects
By 2012, Pradaxa® has caused a devastating impact on many lives. A total of 21 plaintiffs came forward to file an initial Pradaxa® lawsuit to recover compensation for injuries and damages they endured. Another 200 cases followed.
With so many pending cases, claims were consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL). An MDL moves all pending independent claims in front of one judge but unlike a class action, the plaintiffs are not all joined into one big case. Presiding over all of the consolidated Pradaxa® claims, the judge has the opportunity to issue a single ruling on common pretrial questions. This allows for claims to be processed more expediently.
Patients who have experienced harm because of Pradaxa® need to speak with an attorney who can help with. Pradaxa® lawyers at Michigan Injury Lawyers will assist you in determining the best approach to take to pursue legal action and recover compensation.
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If you or a loved one suffered a stroke or other Pradaxa® complications, you can obtain compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional distress or other damages caused by the defective drug.
You don’t have to prove negligence under strict liability rule; it is enough to show that Pradaxa® caused you harm when used as intended. Your attorney will help you obtain the right proof, choose the best legal strategy and make a strong case. Contact us to arrange a free case assessment.
Related information:
CBS News: Study: Higher Heart Attack Risk From Pradaxa®
FDA: Pradaxa® Medication Guide