Left untreated, blood clots can be extremely dangerous. For this reason, medical professionals frequently prescribe blood-thinning medication as a preventative tool. Johnson & Johnson and Bayer Healthcare originally developed Xarelto to be a competing blood-thinner, or anticoagulant, against commonly prescribed drugs such as Warfarin. However, the drug has become the focus of numerous lawsuits, with victims alleging complications from taking the drug that range from uncontrollable bleeding to death. A Pennsylvania Xarelto lawsuit maybe an option for patients who have suffered uncontrollable bleeding or other complications after taking Xarelto.
If you or a loved one suffered severe complications after taking Xarelto, contact Attorney Group for Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania.
Why Is Xarelto Prescribed?
According to WebMD, Xarelto is prescribed to patients suffering from atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or for patients who have recently undergone surgery. The anticoagulant works by blocking the blood clot-building proteins in the blood, preventing them from dislodging from blood vessels and traveling throughout the body, where they can block blood flow to vital organs.
For patients with atrial fibrillation, the medication is designed to reduce the risk of strokes caused by clots that are formed due to an irregular heartbeat. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also approved the use of Xarelto for patients who have had hip or knee replacement surgery, since these patients are at a higher risk of developing blood clots that lead to a pulmonary embolism.
Xarelto Side Effects
The most dangerous side effect of Xarelto is uncontrollable internal bleeding. This is a side effect in other anticoagulants, however with Xarelto there was no antidote at the time the drug was introduced that could be used to flush the drug out of the system in order to stop the bleeding. As a result, there was an increased difficulty for physicians to treat patients suffering from complications that were connected to the medication. There are also reports that Xarelto may actually increase the risk of blood clots in some patients, especially those taking the drug after knee or hip replacement surgery.
Other side effects and complications of Xarelto include:
- Abdominal bleeding
- Reduced platelet levels
- Abnormal liver function
- Brain hemorrhaging
According to court records, the FDA has received over 2,000 reports of severe side effects from Xarelto patients, approximately 1,800 of which list Xarelto as the suspected cause. The deaths of approximately 183 patients have been linked to Xarelto in reports submitted to the FDA.
Pennsylvania Xarelto Lawsuit
Although there are currently no class action suits for Xarelto, there has been a multidistrict litigation started that had 2,200 cases related to the drug as of November 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 a Pennsylvania Xarelto lawsuit attorney to find out what your options are.
Injured Patients May Be Entitled to Compensation
Drug manufacturers have a duty to ensure their products are accompanied by full and accurate instructions and warnings to guide prescribing doctors and other health care providers in making treatment decisions. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
Patients who have been injured by Xarelto may be entitled to compensation for damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Loss of income or ability to work
If a patient dies from complications after taking Xarelto, his or her family members may be able to pursue claims for their loved one’s wrongful death. Compensation may include:
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish from the loss of a loved one
- Loss of financial support of a loved one
- Funeral expenses
Affected patients are encouraged to speak with a Pennsylvania Xarelto lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
Contact Us For More Information
If you or a loved one took Xarelto and suffered complications, including internal bleeding, contact Attorney Group for Pennsylvania for more information. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
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.
See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information, and contact Attorney Group for Pennsylvania today.
