Johnson & Johnson and Bayer Healthcare originally developed Xarelto to be a competing blood-thinner, or anticoagulant, against commonly prescribed drugs such as Warfarin. However, over the years, claims have arisen that taking the drug comes with life-threatening risks that the companies failed to adequately warn medical professionals and patients about. The most notable of these risks is that of uncontrollable bleeding and injuries resulting from pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the lungs. Those affected by the taking of Xarelto are seeking legal action for compensation for their injuries or deaths of loved ones with the help of a Xarelto lawsuit attorney in Illinois.
If you or a loved one suffered severe complications after taking Xarelto, contact Attorney Group for Illinois to learn more about your options. We offer free, confidential, no obligation consultations. We can help answer your questions, and if you have a case we can connect you with an affiliated Xarelto lawsuit attorney in Illinois.
About Xarelto
Xarelto is a blood thinner originally approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2011. It was created to prevent blood clots and is a common prescription for those who suffer from atrial fibrillation in order to prevent a stroke. It is also often used for patients who have undergone hip replacement or knee replacement in order to prevent blood clots.
How It Works
Blood clots on a wound in order to keep the body from bleeding out. However, sometimes abnormal clotting can occur and block the flow of blood within the body. If this happens in the brain, it can cause a stroke. A clot in the lungs is called a pulmonary embolism. Sedentary individuals or those who have recently undergone a surgical procedure generally have a higher risk of developing blood clots. Xarelto thins the blood so there is a lower risk of a clot forming.
Injury Risks
All blood thinners carry with them a bleeding risk, which is why patients taking such drugs need to be careful to avoid any injury, even bruising. However, the greatest risk named in lawsuit claims is irreversible hemorrhaging which can prove fatal. While some blood thinners have an antidote to counteract hemorrhaging, no such antidote currently exists for Xarelto.
Risk of Taking Xarelto
In addition to uncontrollable hemorrhaging, gastrointestinal bleeding is another serious risk associated with the taking of Xarelto. Gastrointestinal bleeding can occur in any part of the digestive tract. It can take time to identify and locate the source of the bleeding, and many patients may not even know they are bleeding until they need a transfusion and extensive medical treatment.
Additional Side Effects
Although the hemorrhaging and bleeding in the GI tract are two of the most serious potential risks, some patients have experienced a series of other side effects while taking Xarelto. These include:
- Back pain
- Bleeding or swollen gums
- Bloody or tarry bowel movements
- Bloody urine
- Bowel and bladder issues
- Dizziness
- Excessive bleeding
Illinois Xarelto Lawsuit
Although there are currently no class action suits for Xarelto, there has been a multidistrict litigation started that had 400 cases related to the drug as of April 2015. Many of these lawsuits, which allege injury or even death related to the taking of the drug, claim that the manufacturers knowingly downplayed the risks of Xarelto and marketed it as a beneficial anticoagulant alternative, despite knowing that it could cause uncontrollable bleeding. As there is usually a statute of limitations on when you can pursue a claim, it is important that you consult with an Illinois Xarelto lawsuit lawyer to find out what your options are.
Injured Patients May Be Entitled to Compensation
Drug makers have a duty to provide safe drugs. If there are risks of harm associated with their drugs, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable for injuries that may result.
Patients who are injured by Xarelto may be entitled to compensation for damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- The permanency of the injury
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Loss of income or ability to work
If a patient dies from complications after taking Xarelto, his family members may be entitled to compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one, including:
- Conscious pain and suffering of a loved one prior to death
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish from the loss of a loved one
- Funeral expenses
Patients who have suffered severe side effects after taking Xarelto, as well as the families of those who have died as a result of complications with the drug, are encouraged to seek the advice of a Illinois Xarelto Lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
The time you have to pursue a claim is limited. Contact us for more information.Get Help Now.
If you or a loved one suffered severe side effects, including uncontrollable bleeding, after taking Xarelto, contact Attorney Group for Illinois for more information.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or 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 for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
