Xarelto Lawsuit Information

Xarelto, an anticoagulant medication manufactured and marketed by Bayer HealthCare, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and Johnson & Johnson, has received a great deal of scrutiny in recent years. Many affected by Xarelto have filed lawsuits against the manufacturers of the medication after suffering serious medical complications.

Approved by the FDA in 2011, Xarelto was considered an innovative medication because it was the first blood thinner to not require ongoing monitoring. Unfortunately, the convenience of the medicine was soon overshadowed by the severe consequences of taking it. Many users suffered uncontrollable bleeding for which there was no antidote. Bleeding events occurred in the intestines, rectum, and brain, and in some cases were fatal.

Users of Xarelto who chose to file lawsuits claim they were injured (and in some cases family members claim loved ones died) and the drug’s manufacturer did nothing to warn of the potential risk or the fact there was no antidote to stop bleeding triggered by the drug.

Plaintiffs have voiced a number of complaints in their lawsuits, including:

• Serious health complications from internal bleeding and other Xarelto side effects
• Financial hardship from visits the emergency room and other doctors
• Lost time from work
• Emotional distress
• Funeral expenses for loved ones lost to Xarelto complications

Lawsuits also claim the makers of Xarelto were aware of the risk and intentionally concealed the problem from doctors and patients. Some believe the medication was not properly tested before it went to market.

Xarelto Lawsuits Continue to Mount

Thousands of adverse event reports related to Xarelto have been filed and hundreds of these involved bleeding. In general, blood thinners trigger a high number of adverse event reports, but Xarelto is considered the worst of the lot. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices recently released a list ranking dangerous medications and placed Xarelto at the top. The medication is also included on the organization’s list of high-alert medications.

Many of the people considering legal action against the makers of Xarelto lost loved ones to the drug. According to court information, hundreds of people have died from Xarelto use and in 2012, the FDA reported the risk for death from Xarelto complications to be three times that of those using Xarelto alternatives.

Why Is Xarelto So Dangerous?

Blood thinning medications are notoriously risky, but Xarelto is known for creating an exceptionally high risk among anticoagulants. Promoted as more convenient than other options, Xarelto does not require users to undergo the blood tests, dietary changes, and constant adjustments other anticoagulants require. It was marketed as a “one size fits all” anticoagulant.

Unfortunately, this convenience is one of the things that makes Xarelto so dangerous. Without the constant monitoring of Xarelto dosage, it can be tough to know when a line is crossed – whether a dose of medication that was safe last week would now put the patient at risk.

In addition to uncontrolled bleeding risk, there is another lesser-discussed complication associated with Xarelto. Many users have experienced wound infections when using the medication, especially when it is prescribed following hip or knee replacement surgery. Research shows the risk for wound leakage and infection is 10 times higher when patients use Xarelto after their procedure. In many cases, follow-up procedures are needed.

The number of lawsuits against the makers of Xarelto continue to mount and many cases were recently consolidated into multidistrict litigation in Louisiana and Illinois. As of April 2015, the Louisiana multidistrict litigation included 400 cases and cited accusations that manufacturers failed to warn users there was no antidote to stop the internal bleeding that is common with anticoagulant medications (other anticoagulants do have an antidote).

In October 2015, the first case was filed alleging Xarelto does not prevent, and may actually have contributed to, ischemic strokes in clients suffering from atrial fibrillation. This case was filed in Philadelphia on behalf of a male Xarelto user in Florida.

If you or a loved one has been injured, or worse, because of internal bleeding or any other complication related to Xarelto use, you have a right to take legal action. Many have filed a Xarelto lawsuit and more are expected in the future.

Sources:

• http://www.ismp.org/QuarterWatch/pdfs/2013Q1.pdf
• http://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/MDL-2592-Initial_Transfer-12-14.pdf
• http://www.bizjournals.com/prnewswire/press_releases/2015/10/08/CL24065
• http://www.aaos.org/news/acadnews/2012/AAOS17_2_8.asp