An Oregon Xarelto lawsuit may be an option for patients who experienced serious complications, including uncontrollable bleeding, after taking the medication. Despite Xarelto’s ability to prevent blood clots and significantly decrease the risk of stroke in some patients, the blood thinner has been allegedly associated with serious adverse risks and complications, including uncontrollable bleeding. Affected patients and their families may be able to file a lawsuit and seek compensation with the help of an Oregon Xarelto lawsuit attorney.
For more information, contact the Attorney Group for Oregon 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 Oregon Xarelto lawsuit attorney.
What is Xarelto?
According to the medication’s website, Xarelto is the number one prescribed Novel Oral Anticoagulant (NOAC) in the United States. The medication is available by prescription, and is used to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). Xarelto is also prescribed for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE) and prophylaxis of DVT in patients undergoing knee or hip replacement surgery.
How Does Xarelto Work?
Xarelto targets Factor Xa (FXa), an enzyme that plays a key role in the coagulation process, and decreases the promotion of blood clotting. Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the maker of Xarelto, claims that the blood thinner is different from other blood thinners on the market because the drug doesn’t require regular blood monitoring, has no known dietary restrictions, and doesn’t need frequent dosage adjustments.
Xarelto Bleeding Risks
Like all anticoagulants, Xarelto may cause bleeding. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) medication guide, Xarelto can cause bleeding which can be serious, and in rare cases, may lead to death.
Unlike other blood thinner medications, such as Xarelto’s competitor Warfarin, Xarelto has been heavily marketed and sold based on claims that the drug does not require regular blood monitoring and dosage adjustments. Lawsuits claim, however, that without the appropriate blood monitoring and dose adjustment, Xarelto can cause major, life-threatening bleeding events.
Xarelto Studies
According to an article published in the New York Times, the FDA is taking a closer look at whether a blood testing device jeopardized the results of a clinical trial that led to the approval of Xarelto. The clinical trial, known as Rocket AF, took place from 2006 to 2010 and involved more than 14,000 patients. The study compared Xarelto to Warfarin, and lawsuits allege that the FDA noted that the data comparing the two drugs was not adequate to make a determination of the drugs’ effectiveness.
Xarelto Side Effects and Risks
The most common side effects related to the use of Xarelto were bleeding complications. Other serious side effects associated with Xarelto include:
- Easy bruising
- Unusual bleeding from the nose, mouth, vagina or rectum
- Heavy menstrual periods
- Headache, dizziness, weakness or feeling faint
- Red or pink urine
- Black or bloody stools
- Coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
- Numbness, tingling or muscle weakness
- Loss of movement in any part of the body
Less serious side effects may include muscle pain, itching, or pain in the arms or legs.
Xarelto Lawsuit Claims
Xarelto lawsuits claim that key studies in the medication’s FDA approval were not managed properly. Specifically, lawsuits allege that the drug maker’s promotional materials failed to highlight the increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and bleeding that required transfusion while heavily promoting the positive results instead.
Lawsuits also note Xarelto’s lack of antidote to reverse the effects of uncontrollable bleeding, unlike other drugs which Xarelto was being marketed against. Additionally, the FDA’s adverse event data has indicated alarming events related to the use of Xarelto, including a total of 2,081 Xarelto-associated reports. Of those reports, 151 resulted in death.
How an Oregon 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 Today.
For more information, contact the Attorney Group for Oregon. 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.
