Key takeaways

  • The most common side effects of Pradaxa (dabigatran) include gastrointestinal problems like nausea, diarrhea, AND abdominal pain. Excessive bleeding is also a common side effect of Pradaxa. In some cases, this bleeding can be severe or even life threatening.
  • Pradaxa is contraindicated for people who have an active bleeding event, a mechanical heart valve, or a history of serious allergic reactions to Pradaxa or any of its ingredients. If you have any of these health factors, doctors typically won’t prescribe Pradaxa for your condition.
  • Most of Pradaxa’s side effects are short term. However, more serious side effects can lead to long-term complications. Before you start treatment with Pradaxa, your doctor will discuss the long-term risks and benefits of taking the drug.

Some people may experience mild to serious side effects during their Pradaxa treatment. Examples of the drug’s commonly reported side effects include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section.

These are just a few of the side effects Pradaxa can cause. They won’t happen to everyone who takes this drug. Additional mild and serious side effects that are possible with Pradaxa are listed below.

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Like most drugs, taking Pradaxa may cause mild side effects. Examples that have been reported with Pradaxa include:

  • nausea or vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • abdominal pain
  • heartburn
  • indigestion

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And do not stop taking Pradaxa unless your doctor recommends it.

Pradaxa may cause mild side effects other than those listed above. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Pradaxa and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

While rare, serious side effects are possible from Pradaxa treatment. Serious side effects that have been reported with this drug include:

If you develop serious side effects while taking Pradaxa, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

To learn more about Pradaxa’s boxed warnings, see the “Boxed warnings for Pradaxa” section. For more details about certain other side effects, see the “Side effect details” section or talk with your doctor.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Pradaxa can cause an allergic reaction. But this side effect wasn’t common in the drug’s clinical studies.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking Pradaxa.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Pradaxa, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Pradaxa has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Increased risk of blood clots when stopping Pradaxa

Pradaxa is a blood thinner. Your risk of blood clots increases when you stop taking any blood thinner, including Pradaxa. In certain situations, such as before a surgery, your doctor may have you temporarily stop treatment with this drug. They’ll tell you exactly when you should stop taking Pradaxa and when to start taking it again after your surgery.

What you can do

Due to the risk of blood clots, it’s important that you do not stop taking Pradaxa unless your doctor specifically recommends it.

If you’re interested in stopping Pradaxa, talk with your doctor first. If they agree you’ll stop taking it, they can talk with you about other blood thinners that may be used for your condition.

Risk of blood clots in or around your spine

Blood thinners such as Pradaxa increase your risk of blood clots, called hematomas, in or around your spine. These can occur if you receive an injection, such as an epidural, into or around your spine. These blood clots can be dangerous and even cause paralysis in extreme cases.

Your risk of spinal hematoma is higher if:

What you can do

Your doctor will carefully monitor you if you need to have a spinal procedure while you’re taking Pradaxa. You should let them know right away if you have symptoms such as back pain, numbness or tingling, or muscle weakness.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about Pradaxa’s side effects.

Do older adults have a higher risk of side effects from Pradaxa?

Yes, adults ages 65 years and older have an increased risk of certain side effects from Pradaxa. Specifically, older adults who took this drug in studies had higher rates of bleeding, including serious bleeds.

To learn more about Pradaxa and serious bleeding, see the “Side effects explained” section below. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about the risks and benefits of taking this drug as an older adult.

Do Pradaxa’s side effects vary depending on the strength I take (such as 110 mg or 150 mg)?

No. In the drug’s studies, there were no differences in side effects based on the strength of the Pradaxa capsules that were taken.

Is hair loss a side effect of Pradaxa?

Hair loss wasn’t reported by people taking Pradaxa in studies. It’s been reported in rare cases by people who have used Pradaxa since the drug came on the market. But it’s not known for sure whether the hair loss was caused by Pradaxa or some other factor.

If you’re concerned about hair loss and your medications, talk with your pharmacist or doctor.

Does Pradaxa cause weight gain?

No, weight gain wasn’t a side effect reported among people taking Pradaxa in studies.

This drug is prescribed to treat or prevent certain blood clots. If you’re taking Pradaxa to prevent blood clots after surgery, such as a hip replacement, your doctor will likely want you to avoid exercise and moving around for some time. You may gain weight during this time due to decreased physical activity.

Talk with your doctor if you have unexpected weight gain or other weight-related issues while taking Pradaxa.

Learn more about some of the side effects Pradaxa may cause.

Serious bleeding

Treatment with Pradaxa can result in serious bleeding, including internal bleeding.

Pradaxa can cause bleeding because of how it works. It’s a blood thinner used to treat or prevent blood clots. It works by making your blood less likely to clot. This can make your body more likely to bleed. It can mean that minor cuts turn into bleeds that go on for a long time. But it can also cause serious bleeds that may be life threatening in extreme cases.

Symptoms of a serious bleed can include:

Certain people have a higher risk of serious bleeding if they take Pradaxa. This includes people who:

  • are ages 65 years or older
  • have kidney problems
  • have a stomach ulcer or existing stomach bleed
  • take other drugs that increase the risk of bleeding

What might help

Immediately contact your doctor if you think you have symptoms of a serious bleed. But if your symptoms feel life threatening, go to the closest emergency room or dial 911 right away.

Indigestion

You may experience indigestion (upset stomach) as a side effect of Pradaxa. This was among the most common side effects reported by people taking the drug in studies.

Symptoms of indigestion can include:

What might help

Contact your doctor if you think you’re having indigestion from Pradaxa. They’ll likely want to make sure your symptoms aren’t due to a bleed (see “Serious bleeding” just above).

If they rule out other causes, they can suggest a treatment for your symptoms, such as:

But if your symptoms still persist, your doctor may suggest switching you from Pradaxa to another blood thinner.

Keeping track of side effects

During your Pradaxa treatment, consider taking notes on any side effects you’re having. You can then share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful when you first start taking a new drug or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

  • what dose of the drug you were taking when you had the side effect
  • how soon you had the side effect after starting that dose
  • what your symptoms were
  • how it affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help them learn more about how Pradaxa affects you. They can then use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Pradaxa may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions. (This is known as a drug-condition interaction.) Other factors may also affect whether this drug is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before starting Pradaxa. Factors to consider include those described below.

Boxed warnings

Pradaxa has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. For details, see “Boxed warnings for Pradaxa.”

Other warnings

Before taking Pradaxa, discuss your health history with your doctor. Pradaxa may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.