Can You Take Too Much Pradaxa?
Pradaxa® (
dabigatran etexilate mesylate) is a prescription anticoagulant ("blood thinner") medication used to prevent blood clots and
strokes in people with
atrial fibrillation (a certain type of irregular heart rhythm). An overdose with Pradaxa can be quite serious, as it can cause dangerous internal bleeding.
The most important effect of a Pradaxa overdose is bleeding. This can include obvious bleeding (such as vomiting of blood, nosebleeds, or bright-red blood in the stool) or bleeding that is less obvious (such as internal bleeding).
Signs and symptoms of a Pradaxa overdose might include:
- Easy bruising
- Cuts or scrapes that are slow to stop bleeding
- Black, tarry stools, bright-red blood in the stool, or vomiting of blood (signs of gastrointestinal bleeding)
- Signs of a hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in the brain), such as vision or speech changes, weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, or a severe headache.
If an overdose of Pradaxa (or even a normal dose) causes bleeding problems, a platelet or blood transfusion may be given to restore the blood's ability to clot.
Any other complications that arise will also be treated as necessary. Dialysis can be useful for rapidly removing Pradaxa from the bloodstream. Because this medication is excreted from the body in the urine, IV fluids and/or diuretics may be administered to help speed up this process.
It is important that you seek medical attention immediately if you believe that you or someone else may have overdosed on Pradaxa.
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