A new plaintiff, Edward Rader, has filed a lawsuit against drug maker Boehringer Ingelheim over side effects linked to the use of the anticoagulant atrial fibrillation medication Dabigatran (Pradaxa). The plaintiff is accusing the company of failing to warn the public and healthcare professionals of the serious adverse side effects linked to the pills.
Dabigatran, once viewed as a safer alternative treatment to the long-used AF drug Warfarin, has been linked to excessive and irreversible bleeding. At the moment, there is no way to effectively stop the bleeding, and many patients die as a result of it. The plaintiff is seeking punitive damages as well as compensatory damages. Rader’s complaint explains that he was hospitalized after taking Pradaxa on November 11, 2011. The drug that Pradaxa was meant to replace has also linked been linked to bleeding, but the difference is that the bleeding caused by that drug, Warfarin, can often be stopped with vitamin K. Studies have shown that Pradaxa patients are five times more likely to die due to bleeding than those taking Warfarin. This is why so many patients are now filing lawsuits against the manufacturers amid claims that the company has tried to hide this from public and healthcare professionals.
Numerous anticoagulants are often used to treat AF patients. One of the other drugs was Multaq. Multaq is made by Sanofi-Aventis and has been linked to serious side effects, including a worsening of the heart condition, liver failure and lung toxicity. It is for this reason that the FDA has recommended that doctors only prescribe Multaq if all other medications fail to work.
If you or a loved one has suffered from liver failure or a worsening heart condition after being treated with Multaq, contact the attorneys at Greg Jones today for a free consultation. I am experienced at fighting Multaq lawsuits and may be able to help you recover money for your injuries.