Recently, an article published by Dr. Ken Uchiro et al in Archives of Internal Medicine reviews the relative safety of antibiotics commonly used today.  The drugs studied were Pradaxa® and warfarin; the risk for heart attack associated with the use of each drug was evaluated relative to other antibiotics and to the use of a placebo medicine.

The authors of this article, titled “Dabigatran Associated With Higher Risk of Acute Coronary Events,” chose to study the risk of each drug to produce an acute coronary event based on the results of a previous study, known as “RE-LY (Randomized Evaluation of Long-term Anticoagulant Therapy),”[1] which “suggested a small increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI) with the use of dabigatran etexilate vs [(Pradaxa)] vs warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation.”[2]

To more closely evaluate the risks associated with these drugs, Uchiro et al. studied over 30,000 people who used these drugs and observed the frequency with which patients using each drug experienced a heart attack, acute coronary event, or symptoms of acute coronary syndrome (ACS)[3]  In all, it was found that “Dabigatran was significantly associated with a higher risk of MI or ACS than that seen with agents used in the control group,”[4] by a factor of 133%.[5]

These results were similar to those of the original RE-LY study, which found that use of dabigatran was associated with a 127% increase in incidence of acute coronary events overall.[6]  When researcher who curated that study excluded patients who only used dabigatran on a short-term basis, it was also found that dabigatran was associated with an increased risk of acute coronary event by a factor of 133%.

Concluding, the authors state that “Dabigatran is associated with an increased risk of MI or ACS in a broad spectrum of patients when tested against different controls.  Clinicians should consider the potential of these serious harmful cardiovascular effects with use of dabigatran.” (emphasis added)

Due to the fact that Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of dabigatran (marketed under the brand name Pradaxa®) has failed to adequately warn users of the risks associated with use of its product, that company may be held liable for injuries caused by its product.

If you or a loved one used Pradaxa® and experienced a heart attack or acute coronary event, please do not hesitate to contact our team of Pradaxa® lawyers for a free, no-obligation case consultation.

At your convenience, you may reach our offices by phone at (855) 452-5529 or by e-mail at justinian@dangerousdrugs.us.   Our skilled team has both the experience and resources to secure the justice you and your loved ones deserve, even when up against the largest pharmaceutical companies.  Call today and see how we can help.

Our Pradaxa Lawsuit Information page is great place to start if you have additional questions about Pradaxa.