DrugRisk Update: New Study Warns of Pradaxa Dangers as Lawsuits Increase
New York, NY (PRWEB) July 19, 2013 -- The prescription drug safety advocates at DrugRisk.com are announcing new information for patients taking the blood thinner Pradaxa. As litigation over alleged internal bleeding injuries grows, a recent study suggests patients may also be at a higher risk for heart attacks*.
DrugRisk is a resource center designed to give patients taking popular prescription drugs like Pradaxa the latest warnings, recalls, studies and legal news. Visitors can see if others are experiencing similar side effects and decide if they need legal advice.
Pradaxa was launched in 2010 to prevent strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation. Experts disagree, however, about whether it carries higher risks for internal bleeding. The FDA has advised that Pradaxa is no more dangerous than traditional blood thinner warfarin**.
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices, however, warned that Pradaxa bleeding is nearly 5 times as likely to result in patient death than bleeding from warfarin***. A University of Illinois study suggested the FDA information may be flawed, and Pradaxa bleeding risks may be higher than expected****. Also, a recent Danish study concluded patients’ risks of internal bleeding may rise when switching from other blood thinners to Pradaxa*****.
Now, DrugRisk has learned of a study presented this month at the Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, which suggests patients taking Pradaxa have a 32-45% higher risk of suffering a heart attack*. The study followed more than 23,000 patients.
A growing number of patients have filed a Pradaxa lawsuit alleging internal bleeding, with cases now being consolidated to a special federal court in Illinois. The case is formally known as MDL No. 2385, IN RE: Pradaxa Product Liability Litigation, Southern District of Illinois. The latest court records show as many as 1,133 cases as of July 10.
Anyone affected by internal bleeding after taking Pradaxa is encouraged to visit DrugRisk.com or speak with a lawyer about their legal options. However, DrugRisk only recommends lawyers who have already handled federal drug injury cases like Pradaxa lawsuits.
For more information on the research, side effects and litigation news related to Pradaxa and other drugs, or to speak with a lawyer, visit http://www.DrugRisk.com.
*eventure-online.com/eventure/publicAbstractView.do?id=215979&congressId=6839
**FDA, 11/2/12; http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm326580.htm
***Institute for Safe Medication Practices, 1/9/13; ismp.org/quarterwatch/pdfs/2012Q2.pdf
****New England Journal of Medicine, 4/4/13; nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1302834
*****British Medical Journal, 5/3/13; bmjopen.bmj.com/content/3/5/e002758.long
Patient Advocate, DrugRisk, http://www.DrugRisk.com, 888-415-1859, [email protected]
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