← All drugs
Drug · FAERS side-effect profile with label screen

Dabigatran Etexilate side effects: what 77,204 FDA adverse event reports show

Dabigatran Etexilate · 1,249 reaction terms · 193,276 drug–reaction co-reports · data 2026-09-14
Share: X Facebook Reddit Email

Drug class

Not stated in label

Who reports

77,204 reports · 77% serious · 11,390 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) 8Likely indication confounding 3Reporting / coding artifact 4Lab value / disease marker 7Not in label — unassessed 17
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). 1,209 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 therapy7216,875.8
4,714.1–10,028.9ROR 6,940.6 · calibrated p 5e-27 ✓
256.3 EB05 240.9 · IC025 +7.7
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifactserious n=720no trial arm names this drug
Thrombin time prolonged117244.1
190.0–313.6ROR 244.4 · calibrated p 1e-10 ✓
125.4 EB05 107.5 · IC025 +6.1
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious n=107no trial arm names this drug
Neuroglycopenia31108.9
71.7–165.4ROR 109.0 · calibrated p 2e-7 ✓
74.2 EB05 54.8 · IC025 +4.5
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=31 · ♀ 100% (drug 48%) · 100% clinicianno trial arm names this drug
International normalised ratio46106.8
75.9–150.3ROR 106.9 · calibrated p 2e-7 ✓
74.3 EB05 58.0 · IC025 +4.9
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=24no trial arm names this drug
Haemorrhagic anaemia1,257106.8
100.0–113.9ROR 108.5 · calibrated p 6e-8 ✓
76.5 EB05 73.0 · IC025 +6.1
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=1,257 · 79% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Activated partial thromboplastin time abnormal5476.3
56.4–103.2ROR 76.3 · calibrated p 1e-6 ✓
58.4 EB05 46.5 · IC025 +4.8
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious n=43 · 100% clinicianno trial arm names this drug
Anticoagulation drug level increased6466.5
50.6–87.4ROR 66.6 · calibrated p 3e-6 ✓
52.6 EB05 42.7 · IC025 +4.8
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious n=64 · 100% clinicianno trial arm names this drug
Anticoagulation drug level abnormal2759.1
39.0–89.7ROR 59.1 · calibrated p 1e-5 ✓
47.1 EB05 34.0 · IC025 +4.1
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious n=27 · 100% clinicianno trial arm names this drug
Atrial thrombosis33752.5
46.7–59.0ROR 52.7 · calibrated p 1e-5 ✓
43.9 EB05 40.1 · IC025 +5.2
3/3 methods agree
Likely indication confounding
term in indications; also in warnings
serious n=329 · 92% clinicianno trial arm names this drug
Cardiac valve replacement complication3138.9
26.7–56.6ROR 38.9 · calibrated p 1e-4 ✓
33.4 EB05 24.7 · IC025 +3.9
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifactserious n=30 · 100% clinicianno trial arm names this drug
Embolic stroke40235.1
31.6–38.9ROR 35.2 · calibrated p 1e-4 ✓
31.1 EB05 28.6 · IC025 +4.7
3/3 methods agree
Likely indication confounding
term in indications; also in warnings
serious n=401no trial arm names this drug
Brain midline shift5531.0
23.4–41.0ROR 31.0 · calibrated p 3e-4 ✓
27.6 EB05 22.0 · IC025 +4.0
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=55 · 100% clinicianno trial arm names this drug
Activated partial thromboplastin time prolonged51730.7
28.0–33.6ROR 30.9 · calibrated p 2e-4 ✓
27.6 EB05 25.7 · IC025 +4.6
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious n=433 · 93% clinicianno trial arm names this drug
Gastrointestinal haemorrhage8,28129.6
29.0–30.2ROR 33.0 · calibrated p 2e-4 ✓
26.7 EB05 26.3 · IC025 +4.7
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 19.8no trial arm names this drug
Heart transplant8729.0
23.3–36.2ROR 29.1 · calibrated p 4e-4 ✓
26.2 EB05 21.9 · IC025 +4.2
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=87 · ♀ 20% (drug 48%)no trial arm names this drug
Haemorrhagic transformation stroke14428.7
24.2–34.1ROR 28.8 · calibrated p 4e-4 ✓
25.9 EB05 22.6 · IC025 +4.3
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=144no trial arm names this drug
Peripheral circulatory failure3827.7
19.9–38.7ROR 27.7 · calibrated p 6e-4 ✓
24.9 EB05 19.0 · IC025 +3.7
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=38 · ♀ 100% (drug 48%) · 100% clinicianno trial arm names this drug
Coagulation time prolonged13826.3
22.1–31.3ROR 26.3 · calibrated p 6e-4 ✓
24.0 EB05 20.8 · IC025 +4.2
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious n=103no trial arm names this drug
Gastrointestinal arteriovenous malformation2525.0
16.6–37.7ROR 25.0 · calibrated p 0.001 ✓
22.6 EB05 16.1 · IC025 +3.3
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=25no trial arm names this drug
Incarcerated hernia2625.0
16.7–37.3ROR 25.0 · calibrated p 0.001 ✓
22.6 EB05 16.2 · IC025 +3.4
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=26 · 100% clinicianno trial arm names this drug
Coagulation test abnormal6424.8
19.2–32.1ROR 24.9 · calibrated p 8e-4 ✓
22.7 EB05 18.4 · IC025 +3.9
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifactserious n=58no trial arm names this drug
Coagulopathy1,36324.2
22.9–25.6ROR 24.6 · calibrated p 7e-4 ✓
22.3 EB05 21.3 · IC025 +4.4
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 17.1no trial arm names this drug
Multiple drug therapy5724.1
18.4–31.6ROR 24.1 · calibrated p 1e-3 ✓
22.0 EB05 17.6 · IC025 +3.8
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifactserious n=56 · ♀ 100% (drug 48%) · 100% clinicianno trial arm names this drug
Blood loss anaemia18123.9
20.5–27.8ROR 24.0 · calibrated p 9e-4 ✓
22.0 EB05 19.4 · IC025 +4.1
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=179no trial arm names this drug
Peripheral embolism9423.8
19.3–29.3ROR 23.8 · calibrated p 1e-3 ✓
21.8 EB05 18.4 · IC025 +4.0
3/3 methods agree
Likely indication confounding
shares a disease stem with the indications wording
serious n=88no trial arm names this drug
Haemothorax22322.5
19.6–25.8ROR 22.6 · calibrated p 0.001 ✓
20.8 EB05 18.6 · IC025 +4.1
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=223no trial arm names this drug
Pelvic haematoma3322.2
15.6–31.7ROR 22.2 · calibrated p 0.002 ✓
20.3 EB05 15.1 · IC025 +3.4
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=33 · ♀ 100% (drug 48%)no trial arm names this drug
Cardiac tamponade35822.0
19.8–24.5ROR 22.1 · calibrated p 0.001 ✓
20.4 EB05 18.7 · IC025 +4.1
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=357no trial arm names this drug
Coagulation time shortened2521.7
14.4–32.6ROR 21.7 · calibrated p 0.002 ✓
19.8 EB05 14.0 · IC025 +3.2
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease marker♀ 0% (drug 48%)no trial arm names this drug
Cerebral artery occlusion7921.6
17.2–27.2ROR 21.7 · calibrated p 0.002 ✓
20.0 EB05 16.6 · IC025 +3.8
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=79no trial arm names this drug
Gastrointestinal angiodysplasia2819.6
13.4–28.8ROR 19.6 · calibrated p 0.003 ✓
18.1 EB05 13.0 · IC025 +3.2
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=28 · 100% clinicianno trial arm names this drug
Melaena (black stool)1,43318.8
17.8–19.8ROR 19.1 · calibrated p 0.002 ✓
17.6 EB05 16.9 · IC025 +4.0
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 12.6no 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 (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 haemorrhage8,28129.6
29.0–30.2ROR 33.0 · calibrated p 2e-4 ✓
26.7 EB05 26.3 · IC025 +4.7
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 19.8no trial arm names this drug
Fall3,2462.7
2.6–2.8ROR 2.7 · calibrated p 0.716
2.7 EB05 2.6 · IC025 +1.3
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 2.1no trial arm names this drug
Haemorrhage3,2048.6
8.3–8.9ROR 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 6.6no trial arm names this drug
Anaemia (low red blood cells)2,8624.1
4.0–4.3ROR 4.2 · calibrated p 0.336
4.1 EB05 3.9 · IC025 +2.0
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 3.3no trial arm names this drug
Dyspnoea (shortness of breath)2,3101.1
1.1–1.2ROR 1.1 · calibrated p 0.381
1.1 EB05 1.1 · IC025 +0.1Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 0.9no trial arm names this drug
Dizziness2,2301.2
1.2–1.3ROR 1.2 · calibrated p 0.456
1.2 EB05 1.2 · IC025 +0.2Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 0.9no trial arm names this drug
Death2,2140.7
0.7–0.7ROR 0.7 · calibrated p 0.125
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
Rectal haemorrhage2,09213.8
13.2–14.4ROR 14.2 · calibrated p 0.009 ✓
13.2 EB05 12.7 · IC025 +3.6
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 9.4no trial arm names this drug
Atrial fibrillation2,0305.8
5.5–6.0ROR 5.9 · calibrated p 0.158
5.6 EB05 5.4 · IC025 +2.4
3/3 methods agree
Likely indication confounding
term in indications; also in warnings
serious PRR 3.7no trial arm names this drug
Diarrhoea (diarrhea)1,8080.8
0.7–0.8ROR 0.8 · calibrated p 0.160
0.8 EB05 0.7 · IC025 -0.5
PRR-only: not supported by EBGM or IC
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 0.6no trial arm names this drug
Asthenia (weakness)1,7931.3
1.2–1.4ROR 1.3 · calibrated p 0.510
1.3 EB05 1.2 · IC025 +0.3Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 0.9no trial arm names this drug
Nausea1,6750.6
0.5–0.6ROR 0.6 · calibrated p 0.071
0.6 EB05 0.6 · IC025 -0.9
PRR-only: not supported by EBGM or IC
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 0.5no trial arm names this drug
Fatigue (tiredness)1,6450.6
0.5–0.6ROR 0.6 · calibrated p 0.071
0.6 EB05 0.6 · IC025 -0.9
PRR-only: not supported by EBGM or IC
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 0.5no 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?

In FDA FAERS, the most frequently co-reported reaction terms for Dabigatran Etexilate are gastrointestinal haemorrhage, cerebrovascular accident, fall, haemorrhage, anaemia, dyspnoea. 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 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 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.