Prescription drug Pradaxa has come under great scrutiny lately for its previously unforeseen negative effects among patients. During its premiere year on the market, Pradaxa was responsible for more than 260 deaths due to internal bleeding and a potential Pradaxa cerebral hemorrhage.
After only being on the market for 3 months, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had already received more than 300 reports from patients complaining about internal bleeding, cerebral hemorrhage, and other Pradaxa complications.
What is a Cerebral Hemorrhage?
A cerebral hemorrhage, such as a brain hemorrhage caused by Pradaxa, is a form of stroke. Brain hemorrhages are caused by the bursting of an artery in the brain causing bleeding in the localized area and surrounding tissues. This bleeding inside the brain (hemorrhaging) kills brain cells. The word hemorrhage comes from the Greek word for blood “hemo.” The word hemorrhage literally means ‘blood bursting forth.’
Other names for a cerebral hemorrhage include intracranial hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, and a brain hemorrhage. Cerebral hemorrhages account for approximately 13% of strokes.
What Happens During a Cerebral Hemorrhage?
Once the blood from the trauma area begins to irritate cerebral tissues, the result is swelling within the brain. This is also known as cerebral edema. The pooled blood from the cerebral hemorrhage collects into a body known as a hematoma. The increasing blood from the hemorrhage increases pressure on surrounding brain tissue and reduces the proper blood flow within the brain.
Cerebral hemorrhaging from such a trauma may happen inside the brain, between layers of the covering of the brain, or between the membranes that cover it and the brain. There are some very serious risk factors associated with a cerebral hemorrhage.
Cerebral Hemorrhage: Symptoms
Symptoms of a cerebral hemorrhage may vary from case to case. The cerebral hemorrhage symptoms depend on where the hemorrhaging is occurring, the seriousness of the bleeding, and the extent to which the surrounding tissue is affected. The onset of cerebral hemorrhage symptoms may also vary. In some cases, the cerebral hemorrhage symptoms may gradually develop and in others they may suddenly appear.
If you experience symptoms of cerebral hemorrhage, you should contact a medical professional. Some common symptoms of a Cerebral Hemorrhage may include:
- Sudden and severe headache
- Weakness in an arm or leg
- Nausea and vomiting
- Seizures with no history of seizures
- Changes in vision
- Loss of motor skills
- Loss of balance
Pradaxa Cerebral Hemorrhage Lawsuit – Contact an Attorney
If you or a loved one have experienced a cerebral hemorrhage that you believe has been caused by prescription Pradaxa, you may have the right to compensation from the makers of the drug. If you or a loved one have suffered from a cerebral hemorrhage please contact our Pradaxa lawyers to review your Pradaxa Cerebral Hemorrhage Lawsuit.