An Arizona Xarelto lawsuit may be an option for patients who developed serious complications after taking the prescription medication. Xarelto is a blood thinner manufactured by the drug company Bayer used to prevent blood clots, which in turn, significantly decreases the risk of stroke in certain patients. Despite these properties, Xarelto has been allegedly linked to severe risks and side effects, including uncontrollable bleeding. Affected patients and their families may be able to pursue a claim and pursue compensation with the help of an Arizona Xarelto lawsuit attorney.
For more information, contact the Attorney Group for Arizona to learn more about your options. We offer free, confidential, no obligation consultations. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated Arizona Xarelto lawsuit attorney.
What is Xarelto and How Does It Work?
The official Xarelto website states that the drug belongs to a class of blood thinners known as anticoagulants. These medications work by preventing blood clots before they have the opportunity to form. They do not eliminate existing clots or actually thin the blood, but they can produce biochemical reactions that make it difficult for blood clots to form in the veins and arteries.
Anticoagulant drugs such as Xarelto are known to be especially effective in patients who suffer from irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation). In addition to their ability to prevent clotting, anticoagulants also reduce the risk of stroke in these patients as well. Xarelto is sometimes prescribed to treat patients who have pulmonary embolism, hip and knee replacement, and deep vein thrombosis for the same reasons.
Xarelto Side Effects
Xarelto’s effectiveness in combating blood clots and strokes has made it extremely valuable to the current medical establishment. However, as with any prescription drug, Xarelto has been found to produce an array of side effects in some patients. The Mayo Clinic states that some incidents of side effects have not been recorded or widely observed.
Side effects of Xarelto include:
- Paralysis
- Difficulty breathing
- Back pain
- Dizziness
- Bladder or bowel dysfunction
- Vomiting blood
If patients experience any of these side effects, they are advised to contact their prescribing physician immediately.
Xarelto Bleeding Risks
The National Center for Biotechnology Information details the risk of uncontrollable bleeding in patients who consume certain blood thinners, including Xarelto and its generic equivalent, Rivaroxaban. It suggests that patients who have experienced deep vein thrombosis, or are at risk of developing it, should not be prescribed Xarelto. The article also states if patients develop this problem, there is no clearly defined medical procedure to stop it.
Patients are especially at risk if they are older, are taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, experience mild renal failure, or have body weight that is considered extreme. Since there are very few coagulation tests currently available outside of medical laboratories, the article recommends prescribing Warfarin, another popular anticoagulant, to deep vein thrombosis patients instead of Xarelto.
FDA Warning Label Changes
In 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a series of changes to Xarelto’s warning label. In a letter, the FDA addresses the use of Xarelto in patients suffering from pulmonary embolism and thrombosis. It also states that the effects of Xarelto have not been sufficiently studied in patients with prosthetic heart valves and that Xarelto should be immediately discontinued if a patient exhibits signs of hemorrhaging.
Xarelto Lawsuit Claims
To date, there have been thousands of lawsuits filed against the manufacturers and marketers of Xarelto. Most of the lawsuits allege that both parties, Bayer (manufacturer) and Janssen (marketers), failed to adequately warn the public about the risk of uncontrollable bleeding.
One particular lawsuit also alleges that the aforementioned companies did not disclose the fact that the uncontrollable bleeding associated with Xarelto, does not have an antidote. Despite the fact that hemorrhaging is a known side effect of many anticoagulants, some drugs, such as Warfarin, have known antidotes to reduce bleeding.
How an Arizona Xarelto Lawsuit Can Help
Drug makers have a duty to provide safe products. If there are risks of harm associated with their products, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
People injured by bad drugs may be eligible to recover money for:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
The families of those who have died may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
The time you have to pursue a claim is limited. Contact us for more information.Get Help Now.
For more information, contact the Attorney Group for Arizona. You can fill out the form on this page or contact us by phone or email.
After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
