Stroke drug warning
The makers of a new stroke-reducing drug prescribed to tens of thousands of Australians are withholding key safety information about which could prove deadly for patients, medical researchers believe.
Pradaxa entered the market in 2009 as the blood thinning wonder drug to save lives.
Now, research from the British Medical Journal suggests it can also kill you.
"You can get internal bleeding within the body such as from the stomach or bleeding within the brain which is the most serious,” Cardiologist Dr James Otton said.
Currently, 30,000 Australians are on the drug.
Pradaxa may be linked to 280 deaths and 1400 cases of serious complications like brain haemorages, strokes, heart attacks and abdmonial bleeding.
“In light of that information we do need to re-look at this drug,” President Dr Liz Marles said.
The creator of the drug rejects claims it withheld safety information, saying in a statement that it “has disclosed all study data and independent of study outcomes, to regulatory authorities”.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has carried out two safety reviews and claims while it is aware of the report, “there is no new information to indicate a change in the benefits and risks”.
The blood thinner has been a best seller in America but now is considered one of the most dangerous drugs on the market, with multiple million-dollar lawsuits in play.
Doctors are not demanding the drug be banned, just that it is more carefully monitored.
If you are taking Pradaxa and have concerns, specialists warn the worst possible thing you can do is stop taking the drug suddenly, as it can cause strokes and even death.
Patients should speak to their doctor first.
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