Not a week seems to go by that we don’t hear media reports of unsafe medications. The FDA is currently in the process of approving three new blood-thinning drugs, which could interact dangerously with other drugs, over-the-counter medications and even herbal remedies.
The anticoagulants, dabigatran etexilate (Pradaxa®) and apixaban, are supposed to be more convenient than currently used Warfarin (Coumadin). Patients on Warfarin have to see their doctors monthly to evaluate whether doses need to be adjusted – too high and too low a dose is equally dangerous.
The manufacturers of the new drugs claim that doses won’t need to be adjusted monthly. But what they’re not telling consumers is that drug interactions could bring the same risks as Warfarin. For instance, St. John’s Wort can make them less effective, while aspirin could increase the risk of bleeding. The manufacturers have tested these drugs only on animals and in clinical trials involving healthy patients who were carefully monitored. “Many unknowns remain as to how the new anticoagulants will behave in the real world patient population,” wrote researchers in the International Journal of Clinical Practice. In other words, no one knows what will happen when doctors start prescribing them to elderly people, individuals with multiple health problems, or people who simply take aspirin or herbal remedies.
If you have been injured by an unsafe drug, contact Hodes Milman for a free case evaluation. We are aggressive personal injury and medical malpractice lawyers based in Orange County, serving all of California. We have the experience to take on the legal teams of pharmaceutical companies and have achieved million-dollar verdicts for our clients. For a free consultation, call us toll-free at (949) 640-8222 or submit the contact form via our website, www.hodesmilman.com.
