Pradaxa Frequently Asked Questions

Pradaxa is an oral anticoagulant, or blood thinner, that is designed as a prescription drug treatment for various issues related to the clotting of blood. Despite its medical uses, the drug is also known to have the potential for very serious side effects, including the risk of strokes, major bleeding, and liver failure. When a defective product is put into the market and causes harm to patients, those people that are injured have the right to file a lawsuit to win financial compensation for their injuries. The costs associated with these side effects can be high, both in terms of your financial health as well as any pain and suffering you have had to endure.

If you or someone you love has been harmed by Pradaxa, the highly experienced attorneys at Gilman & Bedigian are here to fight for you. Here, we answer frequently asked questions about the medication, as well as what to do once you have suffered injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Pradaxa?

Pradaxa is an oral medication taken in capsules and is a prescription blood thinner (anticoagulant) that helps to lower the risk of blood clots forming in your body. It is also used to reduce the risk of stroke and blood clots in those patients who suffer from a medical condition called atrial fibrillation that is not caused by a heart valve problem. The medicine can also help to treat deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in your legs) and pulmonary embolism (clots in your lungs).

2. What is atrial fibrillation?

An atrial fibrillation, or AFib for short, is an irregular or quivering heartbeat (arrhythmia) that can cause strokes, blood clots, and heart failure. Many patients describe AFib as a “skip” or “flip flop” of their hearts rhythm. Those with certain factors increase the chance they will develop AFib, such as:

age
high blood pressure
heart disease
alcohol consumption
obesity
family history
thyroid problems
chronic kidney disease

3. What are some of the side effects of Pradaxa?

Use of Pradaxa carries the risk for a number of very serious side effects, many of which can be dangerous or even lead to a person’s death. These side effects include, but are not necessarily limited to:

Uncontrollable and Severe Bleeding: Bleeding that cannot be stopped, leading to high-level blood loss or death.
Brain Hemorrhages: Bleeding in the brain.
Liver Failure
Spinal Cord Clots
Heart Attack
Unexpected and Unusual Bruising
Headaches
Dizziness
Weakness
Pink or Brown Urine
Red or Black Stool
Coughing Up or Vomiting Blood
Vomit that Looks Like Coffee Grounds

These side effects can lead to long-term damage to your body, serious injury, or even death. In any case, the cost of treating these side effects can be high, and you likely experienced pain and suffering as a result. You should not have to bear these medical costs, and you deserve compensation from the manufacturer of any defective drug.

4. Is there an antidote to Pradaxa during uncontrollable bleeding?

Unlike the drug Pradaxa is intended to replace, Warfarin, Pradaxa does not have an antidote available for when uncontrollable bleeding begins to occur. This uncontrollable bleeding is one of the most serious complicating side effects of this drug, and like another medication called Xarelto, there is no antidote to stop the bleeding when it begins to occur. As a result, many people have lost their lives or been seriously injured as a result.

Many lawsuits are based upon the fact that there is no antidote available in these types of situations. If this issue has affected you or a loved one, an experienced Pradaxa injury lawyer can help you and your family.

5. Can I sue my doctor for failure to warn?

You may file a medical malpractice claim against any doctor who did not properly advise and warn you of the possible side effects associated with Pradaxa. This medication has known risks, and as such, the physician is required to tell you of these risks, as well as give you important medical information about how your life will change while on the drug. Failure to warn you of these side effects can be considered medical malpractice in many cases.

When a doctor or other medical professional commits medical malpractice, he or she should be responsible for the injuries caused by his or her failure to warn you of the potential side effects. Discuss with your attorney the facts and circumstances of your case to better understand how this may apply to you.

6. What is a defective products liability lawsuit?

When a manufacturer of a medication or drug puts a defective product into the market for people to purchase, that manufacturer can be held liable for its choices and mistakes. Defective products may cause serious injuries such as unintended side effects that may cause serious medical injury or even death. The pharmaceutical company can be held responsible for a drug when it causes harm to the patients that take it.

7. What financial compensation can I receive?

A person injured by Pradaxa is entitled to receive financial compensation in the form of money damages for any injuries that result from its use. This financial compensation may include, but is not limited to:

cost of medical bills
future medical costs
rehabilitation costs
pain and suffering
lost wages
loss of consortium
damages related to loss of ability to get pregnant
wrongful death damages

These money damages can help make you whole again and help pay for the costs you have incurred already, as well as any future costs as well. This harm to your deserves compensation so that you can move forward with your life with confidence and security.

Pradaxa Lawyers in Philadelphia

When Pradaxa causes you harm, you are entitled to bring a medical malpractice and/or products liability claim to receive financial compensation. The experienced attorneys at Gilman & Bedigian have the knowledge and years of practice to fight for your rights.