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Dabigatran Etexilate Mesylate side effects: what 72,206 FDA adverse event reports show

Dabigatran Etexilate Mesylate · 1,230 reaction terms · 173,374 drug–reaction co-reports · data 2026-09-14
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Drug class

Not stated in label

Who reports

72,206 reports · 76% serious · 10,779 with death outcome · 48% female

openFDA FAERS counts, all years, deduplication not applied

Used for

Dabigatran etexilate capsules are a direct thrombin inhibitor indicated: • To reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in adult patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation ( 1.1 ) • For the treatment of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmon.

FDA label, Indications and Usage

Boxed warning

(A) PREMATURE DISCONTINUATION OF DABIGATRAN ETEXILATE CAPSULES INCREASES THE RISK OF THROMBOTIC EVENTS, and (B) SPINAL/EPIDURAL HEMATOMA (A) PREMATURE DISCONTINUATION OF DABIGATRAN ETEXILATE CAPSULES INCREASES THE RI.

FDA label
How to read this page. FAERS is a spontaneous-reporting system: counts are not incidence rates and a signal is not proof of causation. Each reaction below is run through an automated screen — is the term in the FDA label (known), in the indications (the disease being treated), an administrative/coding term, or none of these (unlabeled)? That screen is mechanical text matching, not a causality assessment. The 30 hand-written Bradford Hill assessments are on the causality assessment page. Not medical advice.

Causality screen of the 40 strongest signals

Labeled adverse reaction 1Labeled (related wording) 11Likely indication confounding 3Reporting / coding artifact 3Lab value / disease marker 7Not in label — unassessed 15
What the badges mean

Strongest disproportionality signals

Flagged terms (PRR ≥ 2, χ² ≥ 4, n ≥ 10), ranked by PRR; infinite PRRs (no comparator reports) excluded. The EBGM column is a second, shrinkage-based estimate (MGPS) with its 5th percentile EB05 and the BCPNN IC025; a pair flagged by PRR alone is marked PRR-only and should be read as fragile. The strata column recomputes the PRR on serious reports only (and, for the 300 most-reported drugs, adjusted for age band), and flags pairs whose reports are unusually skewed by sex or come mostly from consumers. Each row also shows the PRR against the other drugs of the same FDA class, which removes most confounding by the condition being treated, and a calibrated p-value: on validation, known non-causes average an ROR of about 2, so significance is judged against that empirical null (✓ = p < 0.05 after calibration). 1,190 further terms are in the interactive explorer. Reaction links open the term's cross-drug page.

Show:
ReactionReportsPRR 95% CI · ROR · χ²/pEBGM EB05 · IC025Label screenSerious-only & strataTrial cross-check
Procoagulant therapy73717,539.0
9,915.4–31,024.4ROR 17,719.9 · calibrated p 9e-31 ✓
279.9 EB05 263.4 · IC025 +7.8
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifactserious n=733no trial arm names this drug
Thrombin time abnormal22285.6
158.2–515.6ROR 285.7 · calibrated p 4e-10 ✓
127.7 EB05 88.9 · IC025 +4.4
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious n=20 · 100% clinicianno trial arm names this drug
Thrombin time prolonged121278.7
216.9–357.9ROR 279.1 · calibrated p 4e-11 ✓
138.5 EB05 119.0 · IC025 +6.2
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious n=106no trial arm names this drug
International normalised ratio46114.2
81.2–160.8ROR 114.3 · calibrated p 9e-8 ✓
79.3 EB05 61.8 · IC025 +5.0
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=24no trial arm names this drug
Haemorrhagic anaemia1,245112.7
105.5–120.2ROR 114.6 · calibrated p 4e-8 ✓
81.0 EB05 77.3 · IC025 +6.2
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=1,245 · 80% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Activated partial thromboplastin time abnormal5277.7
57.2–105.6ROR 77.8 · calibrated p 1e-6 ✓
60.0 EB05 47.6 · IC025 +4.8
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious n=41 · 100% clinicianno trial arm names this drug
Anticoagulation drug level increased5457.8
43.1–77.4ROR 57.8 · calibrated p 8e-6 ✓
47.5 EB05 37.7 · IC025 +4.6
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious n=54 · 100% clinicianno trial arm names this drug
Atrial thrombosis31151.0
45.2–57.5ROR 51.2 · calibrated p 1e-5 ✓
43.3 EB05 39.4 · IC025 +5.2
3/3 methods agree
Likely indication confounding
term in indications; also in warnings
serious n=303 · 91% clinicianno trial arm names this drug
Cardiac valve replacement complication2735.5
23.8–53.0ROR 35.5 · calibrated p 2e-4 ✓
31.1 EB05 22.4 · IC025 +3.7
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifactserious n=26 · 100% clinicianno trial arm names this drug
Embolic stroke37634.8
31.3–38.7ROR 35.0 · calibrated p 1e-4 ✓
31.1 EB05 28.5 · IC025 +4.7
3/3 methods agree
Likely indication confounding
term in indications; also in warnings
serious n=376no trial arm names this drug
Strangulated hernia2433.8
22.1–51.5ROR 33.8 · calibrated p 3e-4 ✓
29.7 EB05 21.0 · IC025 +3.6
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=24 · 100% clinicianno trial arm names this drug
Heart transplant8530.3
24.2–37.8ROR 30.3 · calibrated p 3e-4 ✓
27.3 EB05 22.8 · IC025 +4.2
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=85 · ♀ 20% (drug 48%)no trial arm names this drug
Haemorrhagic transformation stroke14130.0
25.2–35.7ROR 30.1 · calibrated p 3e-4 ✓
27.2 EB05 23.6 · IC025 +4.4
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=141no trial arm names this drug
Gastrointestinal haemorrhage7,87730.0
29.3–30.6ROR 33.5 · calibrated p 1e-4 ✓
27.2 EB05 26.7 · IC025 +4.7
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 20.4no trial arm names this drug
Activated partial thromboplastin time prolonged47629.9
27.3–32.9ROR 30.1 · calibrated p 3e-4 ✓
27.2 EB05 25.2 · IC025 +4.6
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious n=385 · 93% clinicianno trial arm names this drug
Brain midline shift5029.8
22.3–39.9ROR 29.8 · calibrated p 4e-4 ✓
26.8 EB05 21.2 · IC025 +4.0
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=50 · 100% clinicianno trial arm names this drug
Cardiac tamponade41327.5
24.9–30.4ROR 27.7 · calibrated p 4e-4 ✓
25.1 EB05 23.2 · IC025 +4.4
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=413 · 90% clinicianno trial arm names this drug
Incarcerated hernia2525.6
17.0–38.5ROR 25.6 · calibrated p 1e-3 ✓
23.2 EB05 16.5 · IC025 +3.4
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=25 · 100% clinicianno trial arm names this drug
Peripheral embolism9325.1
20.3–31.1ROR 25.2 · calibrated p 7e-4 ✓
23.1 EB05 19.4 · IC025 +4.0
3/3 methods agree
Likely indication confounding
shares a disease stem with the indications wording
serious n=87no trial arm names this drug
Gastrointestinal arteriovenous malformation2324.4
16.0–37.4ROR 24.4 · calibrated p 0.001 ✓
22.2 EB05 15.5 · IC025 +3.3
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=23no trial arm names this drug
Coagulation test abnormal5924.3
18.6–31.7ROR 24.3 · calibrated p 9e-4 ✓
22.3 EB05 18.0 · IC025 +3.8
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifactserious n=53no trial arm names this drug
Coagulopathy1,26023.8
22.5–25.2ROR 24.2 · calibrated p 8e-4 ✓
22.0 EB05 21.0 · IC025 +4.4
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 17.0no trial arm names this drug
Blood loss anaemia16823.6
20.2–27.6ROR 23.6 · calibrated p 1e-3 ✓
21.8 EB05 19.2 · IC025 +4.1
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=167no trial arm names this drug
Coagulation time prolonged11222.4
18.5–27.2ROR 22.4 · calibrated p 0.001 ✓
20.8 EB05 17.8 · IC025 +3.9
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious n=77no trial arm names this drug
Pelvic haematoma3021.4
14.8–31.0ROR 21.4 · calibrated p 0.002 ✓
19.7 EB05 14.4 · IC025 +3.3
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=30 · ♀ 100% (drug 48%)no trial arm names this drug
Cerebral artery occlusion7321.3
16.8–27.0ROR 21.3 · calibrated p 0.002 ✓
19.8 EB05 16.2 · IC025 +3.7
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=73no trial arm names this drug
Haemothorax19721.1
18.2–24.3ROR 21.1 · calibrated p 0.002 ✓
19.7 EB05 17.5 · IC025 +4.0
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=197no trial arm names this drug
Cardiac ablation11520.1
16.7–24.3ROR 20.2 · calibrated p 0.002 ✓
18.8 EB05 16.1 · IC025 +3.8
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=101no trial arm names this drug
Coagulation time shortened2119.2
12.4–29.9ROR 19.2 · calibrated p 0.004 ✓
17.7 EB05 12.0 · IC025 +3.0
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease marker–no trial arm names this drug

Trial evidence (ClinicalTrials.gov)

No completed trial with posted adverse-event results was found on ClinicalTrials.gov for Dabigatran Etexilate Mesylate (searched DABIGATRAN ETEXILATE).

Most frequently reported reactions

By raw co-report count, regardless of disproportionality. Common terms here are often the illness itself or generic outcomes.

ReactionReportsPRR 95% CI · ROR · χ²/pEBGM EB05 · IC025Label screenSerious-only & strataTrial cross-check
Gastrointestinal haemorrhage7,87730.0
29.3–30.6ROR 33.5 · calibrated p 1e-4 ✓
27.2 EB05 26.7 · IC025 +4.7
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 20.4no trial arm names this drug
Fall3,0232.7
2.6–2.8ROR 2.7 · calibrated p 0.721
2.6 EB05 2.6 · IC025 +1.3
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 2.0no trial arm names this drug
Haemorrhage2,9978.5
8.2–8.9ROR 8.9 · calibrated p 0.048 ✓
8.3 EB05 8.1 · IC025 +3.0
3/3 methods agree
Labeled — boxed warning
synonym match
serious PRR 6.7no trial arm names this drug
Anaemia (low red blood cells)2,5984.0
3.8–4.1ROR 4.1 · calibrated p 0.358
4.0 EB05 3.8 · IC025 +1.9
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 3.2no trial arm names this drug
Death2,1130.7
0.7–0.7ROR 0.7 · calibrated p 0.132
0.7 EB05 0.7 · IC025 -0.6
PRR-only: not supported by EBGM or IC
Outcome field, not a reactionserious PRR 0.5no trial arm names this drug
Dyspnoea (shortness of breath)2,0311.0
1.0–1.1ROR 1.0 · calibrated p 0.336
1.0 EB05 1.0 · IC025 -0.0
PRR-only: not supported by EBGM or IC
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 0.8no trial arm names this drug
Rectal haemorrhage1,98013.9
13.3–14.6ROR 14.3 · calibrated p 0.008 ✓
13.3 EB05 12.8 · IC025 +3.7
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 9.6no trial arm names this drug
Dizziness1,9281.1
1.1–1.2ROR 1.1 · calibrated p 0.392
1.1 EB05 1.1 · IC025 +0.1Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 0.7no trial arm names this drug
Atrial fibrillation1,7435.3
5.0–5.5ROR 5.4 · calibrated p 0.198
5.2 EB05 5.0 · IC025 +2.3
3/3 methods agree
Likely indication confounding
term in indications; also in warnings
serious PRR 3.3no trial arm names this drug
Diarrhoea (diarrhea)1,6550.7
0.7–0.8ROR 0.7 · calibrated p 0.151
0.7 EB05 0.7 · IC025 -0.5
PRR-only: not supported by EBGM or IC
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 0.5no trial arm names this drug
Asthenia (weakness)1,6381.3
1.2–1.3ROR 1.3 · calibrated p 0.489
1.3 EB05 1.2 · IC025 +0.3Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 0.9no trial arm names this drug
Dyspepsia (indigestion)1,5204.6
4.3–4.8ROR 4.6 · calibrated p 0.279
4.5 EB05 4.3 · IC025 +2.1
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 1.9 · 77% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Fatigue (tiredness)1,4960.6
0.5–0.6ROR 0.5 · calibrated p 0.065
0.6 EB05 0.5 · IC025 -0.9
PRR-only: not supported by EBGM or IC
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 0.4no trial arm names this drug

Unlabeled candidate signals

These flagged terms were not found in the FDA label text and do not match an artifact pattern. They are the pairs that would merit a structured assessment (temporality, dose-response, biological plausibility, consistency across databases, trial or cohort evidence). The screen has not done that; string-matching misses label wording, and a strong PRR can still be stimulated reporting, co-medication, or the disease itself.

✓ A hand-written Bradford Hill causality assessment exists for this drug: Dabigatran ↔ Gastrointestinal bleeding.

Want to assess one of these properly? The runbook describes the Bradford Hill / trial-evidence workflow used on the assessment page, and handoff_top1000_signals.csv lists the strongest unassessed pairs across all drugs.

Common questions

What are the most reported side effects of Dabigatran Etexilate Mesylate?

In FDA FAERS, the most frequently co-reported reaction terms for Dabigatran Etexilate Mesylate are gastrointestinal haemorrhage, cerebrovascular accident, fall, haemorrhage, anaemia, ischaemic stroke. These are report counts, not rates: FAERS has no denominator, reporting is voluntary and uneven, and a term can be reported because of the illness being treated rather than the drug.

Does Dabigatran Etexilate Mesylate have an FDA boxed warning?

Yes. The current FDA label carries a boxed warning: (A) PREMATURE DISCONTINUATION OF DABIGATRAN ETEXILATE CAPSULES INCREASES THE RISK OF THROMBOTIC EVENTS, and (B) SPINAL/EPIDURAL HEMATOMA (A) PREMATURE DISCONTINUATION OF DABIGATRAN ETEXILATE CAPSULES INCREASES THE RI.

Do FAERS signals prove that Dabigatran Etexilate Mesylate causes these side effects?

No. A disproportionality signal (PRR, ROR) means a reaction is reported more often with this drug than with others in the database. That can reflect a real effect, but also the disease being treated, stimulated reporting after news or litigation, co-medications, or how reports are coded. Causality needs temporality, dose-response, biological plausibility, consistency across data sources and, ideally, trial or cohort evidence. This page screens each term against the FDA label and ClinicalTrials.gov results; it does not establish causation.

Sources & methods

Page generated 2026-10-14. Label and PubChem text are retrieved automatically and may lag the current label; always check the current prescribing information. OpenPV is a beta research tool of the Open Source Medicine Foundation.