Pradaxa is part of a class of medications which are relatively new to the market that recently have been approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Pradaxa is an oral anticoagulant medication often prescribed for patients suffering from certain types of arrhythmia to thin the blood. The purpose of prescribing Pradaxa is to prevent strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation, which can be found in patients with heart rhythm abnormalities. However, studies have shown that patients taking Pradaxa have a 33% higher risk of heart attack or acute coronary syndrome than those taking Warfarin, commonly known as Coumadin. See this link to a CBS News story for more information.
The drug manufacturers developed and produced Pradaxa to create a drug that would replace Coumadin. Coumadin has been in use since 1954, as an anticoagulant medication. However, doctors must closely monitor levels of the medication in a patient’s blood. This close monitoring increases the cost of taking the drug, not to mention the inconvenience to the patient of having frequent blood draws. Pradaxa was developed to try to lower medical costs for patients that need to be on anticoagulant medication.
The attorneys at Christopher Ligori & Associates have extensive experience handling cases for the victims of Pradaxa. If you or someone you know has suffered a heart attack or has experienced side effects while taking Pradaxa , please call the office at 813-223-2929 for a free consultation.
