In 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approve the blood thinner Pradaxa. Pradaxa was used by patients to prevent blood clots from forming due to the individual’s irregular heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation). The drug was produced by German manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals as a substitute to the drug warfarin. Initially, Pradaxa was advertised as a safe blood thinner that did not require patient dietary restrictions (unlike warfarin that requires dietary restrictions as well as weekly exams) and was readily prescribed to patients by their doctors.
Although only a year after the drug was approved by the U.S. FDA in 2011, over 540 patients died from using of the drug Pradaxa, while thousands also were left suffering from negative side effects because of the drug according to the FDA data. Family members of the deceased and those who have experienced negative side effects brought lawsuits against the German manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals (Boehringer).
- Side effects of Pradaxa include, but are not limited to:
- Death;
- Uncontrollable bleeding (continuous);
- Extreme weakness, to point of feeling like you might pass out;
- Easy bruising;
- Nausea;
- Diarrhea;
- Abdominal or stomach pains;
- Unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum);
- Blood in your urine or stools;
- Coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
- Pink or brown urine;
- Joint pain or swelling;
- Heavy menstrual bleeding;
- Skin rash or itching;
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In 2014, Boehringer announced that their company would pay $650 million to settle each and every of the 4,000 total state and federal lawsuits. The average amount given to each of the suffering parties was $162, 500. This settlement set the damages amount bar for similar lawsuits and as a result may be referenced in future lawsuits as a standard in determining the correct amount of damages in blood thinner lawsuits.
If you or a loved one has experienced any type of negative side effect from a prescription drug, contact the Naumes Law Group.