July 24, 2013 — Pradaxa (dabigatran), a new blood-thinning medication, has been associated with an increased risk of heart attacks in two new studies. The side effect is concerning, because Pradaxa is supposed to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes due to blood clots. The manufacturer of Pradaxa, Boehringer Ingelheim, is now facing more than 1,100 Pradaxa lawsuits involving severe bleeding.
The first study was published in June 2013 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. In an accompanying editorial, doctors reported a 48% increased risk of heart attack when Pradaxa was compared to controls.
Another study, presented at the 2013 Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, involved data on more than 23,000 people in 10 studies, including 292 people who took Pradaxa and had a heart attack (1.2%). The researchers associated Pradaxa with a 32% increased risk of heart attack compared to warfarin. Higher doses of Pradaxa were associated with higher risks. Patients on the 150-mg dose of Pradaxa had up to a 45% higher risk of a heart attack.
This is not the first time Pradaxa has been linked to heart attacks. In January 2012, the Archives of Internal Medicine published a study linking Pradaxa to a 27-33% increased risk of a heart attack when Pradaxa was compared to other blood-thinning medications. The study involved data on nearly 40,000 people in 7 clinical trials.
Do I have a Pradaxa Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Pradaxa injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured by severe bleeding, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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