More people are refusing to take the dangerous blood thinners Xarelto and Pradaxa. Therefore, pharmaceutical companies are finding creative workarounds. They are funding studies and online training programs centered on teaching nurses to convince patients to use these dangerous medications. Plus, informing nurses on what to say when a patient refuses to take these blood thinners.

About Blood Thinners

For a long time, the staple blood thinner given to patients was warfarin. Then, a new generation of blood thinners hit the market. These are Pradaxa and Xarelto. However, they came to market without an antidote and many people began to get injured or die.

Pradaxa

Pradaxa tied for first place as the drug most linked to adverse event reports filed with the FDA in 2011, showing that it ranks among the highest risk of all drug treatments, reported QuarterWatch, a non-profit drug monitoring organization. The FDA received reports of  7,387 serious, harmful events in 2012, as well as 1,158 deaths in the U.S. alone. Among the reports of hemorrhage, acute renal (kidney) failure and stroke, Pradaxa surpassed all other drugs.

Approved by the FDA in October 2010 to prevent strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation, Pradaxa was the first blood thinner to compete with the longtime standard,  warfarin. Warfarin also goes by brand names Coumadin and Jantoven. Just over a year later, research began to emerge linking Pradaxa to serious bleeding risks. The pharmaceutical company did not communicate this risk to doctors or patients.

Many believe that manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH rushed Pradaxa through clinical trials and the FDA approval process in order to beat two similar drugs to the market, thereby capturing as many consumers as possible. Unfortunately, this ploy worked, and in April, Pradaxa became a “blockbuster” drug, meaning it generated annual sales of $1 billion or more. Negligence on the part of Boehringer means this dangerous drug has reached millions of patients, potentially caused thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths.

Xarelto

Approved by the FDA in 2011, Xarelto is used to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), and blood clots. Manufacturers Bayer and Janssen promote the drug has the gold standard for anticoagulants. However, it may be more dangerous than other medications on the market since there is no antidote.

By stopping the blood from clotting, blood-thinners can prevent blood clots in people suffering from conditions such as atrial fibrillation. Due to the risk of unstoppable bleeding, researchers developed an “antidote” to stop this effect in the case of emergency in users of warfarin, the most popular anticoagulant for decades.

Xarelto users aren’t so lucky. There is no antidote to reverse the anti-clotting effect of Xarelto in an emergency. This means doctors and surgeons may have limited options. It means that what could be a treatable injury for most people can be a fatal one for Xarelto users. Additionally,  unlike other anticoagulants, Xarelto doesn’t push regular blood monitoring. With regular blood monitoring, doctors can adjust the dosage to ensure patients aren’t at risk.

New Nursing Training Program

It used to be that if a patient refused treatment, a nurse would comply. After receiving financial backing, researchers developed an online training program aimed at “teaching” nurses how to respond when patients say they don’t want to take blood thinners.

The study involved almost 1,000 nurses at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. After the online training, the number of patients refusing Xarelto or Pradaxa dropped from 12.4% to 11.1%.

It is curious if during these online programs if nurses are also trained to know why their patients are refusing the medication? Do nurses know the dangerous side effects of these blood thinners?

Xarelto or Pradaxa Lawsuit

Thousands of patients are speaking out against Xarelto and Pradaxa. They decided to take a stand and ask for compensation for their injuries. They feel these companies are profiting on their pains and their loved ones’ deaths. These drugs are dangerous because the administration can be difficult, and it can complicate the healing of wounds. There is a tiny window of time between a safe dose and a dangerous one. Overdose or not enough of the medication is a grim reality.

Xarelto lawsuits are similar to lawsuits over Pradaxa, another newer-generation anticoagulant. Michael Brady Lynch, the founder of The Michael Brady Lynch Firm is leading the country in Pradaxa lawsuits. Michael was a member of the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee in the Pradaxa Multi-District Litigation and was instrumental in securing the $650 million settlement for those injured by Pradaxa’s uncontrollable bleeding. Mr. Lynch continues to be a leader in Pradaxa litigation nationwide in representing those who continue to suffer uncontrollable bleeding events from Pradaxa.

Attorney Lynch has said, “The U.S. numbers for Pradaxa bleeding events are truly staggering. It is on the verge of a national health disaster.”

If a jury finds the conduct of a drug company in manufacturing and selling the drug to be highly reckless, a jury may award punitive damages to punish the company and deter similar conduct in the future. If you had a bleeding event after taking Xarelto or Pradaxa, please speak to us to learn more about your rights.

Case evaluations are free of cost and without obligation. Call us today at (877) 513-9517 or contact us online to speak with an attorney about your options. We may be able to get you the help you need.