DrugRisk Adds Study Showing Pradaxa May Increase Viral Infection Risk

Denver, CO (PRWEB) April 03, 2013

The prescription drug safety advocates at DrugRisk.com are alerting patients of new information on the site for those taking the blood thinner Pradaxa. A new study from The University of North Carolina suggests the atrial fibrillation drug may increase the chances of contracting some viral infections****.

DrugRisk was created to improve the safety of those taking prescription drugs by sharing the latest warnings, recalls, studies and legal news. Patients can see if others are experiencing similar side effects and decide if they need legal advice.

Experts have disagreed over whether Pradaxa, launched in 2010 to prevent strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation, causes higher risks of internal bleeding. The FDA recently advised that Pradaxa is no more dangerous than traditional blood thinner warfarin*.

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices, however, ranked blood thinners like Pradaxa among the most dangerous drugs, and warned that patients suffering Pradaxa bleeding are almost 5 times as likely to die than those with bleeding from warfarin**. Researchers with the University of Illinois at Chicago also recently warned that the data used by the FDA may be flawed, and the risk for bleeding from Pradaxa may be higher than previously thought***.

Now, DrugRisk has learned of a new study by researchers at the University of North Carolina, which suggests the blood-thinning properties of Pradaxa may make patients more susceptible to certain viral infections****. By reducing the innate properties of thrombosis, users may become more prone to flu and myocarditis****.

Already, more than 260 patients have filed a Pradaxa lawsuit over allegations of internal bleeding, which have been consolidated to a special federal court in Illinois. The case is formally known as MDL No. 2385, IN RE: Pradaxa Product Liability Litigation, Southern District of Illinois.

Anyone affected by alleged Pradaxa internal bleeding after taking the drug is encouraged to speak with a lawyer about their legal options. However, due to the specialized nature of federal drug injury cases, DrugRisk only recommends lawyers who have already handled Pradaxa lawsuits.

For more information on the research, side effects and litigation news related to Pradaxa and other drugs, or to speak with a lawyer, visit http://www.DrugRisk.com.

*http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm326580.htm **Instutute for Safe Medication Practices, 1/9/13; ismp.org/quarterwatch/pdfs/2012Q2.pdf ***http://www.dailyrx.com/dabigatran-prevent-stroke-and-blood-clots-may-cause-excess-bleeding-reports-are-conflicting ****http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130401132058.htm

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DrugRisk Adds Study Showing Pradaxa May Increase Viral Infection Risk