A Virginia Xarelto lawsuit may be an option for patients who have suffered complications after taking the blood thinner. Xarelto is a commonly used blood thinner that treats and prevents blood clots in order to lower the risk of stroke in patients who have atrial fibrillation. The drug makers originally developed Xarelto to be an alternative to the widely used blood thinner, Warfarin. The drug has become the focus of numerous lawsuits, with patients alleging severe side effects from taking the drug ranging from uncontrollable bleeding to death. A Virginia Xarelto lawsuit maybe an option for patients who have suffered uncontrollable bleeding or other complications after taking Xarelto.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Virginia 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 Xarelto lawsuit attorney.
What is Xarelto?
As stated by MedlinePlus, Xarelto (which is sometimes referred to by its generic name rivaroxaban) is used to treat numerous disorders. People with an irregular heartbeat, a condition known as atrial fibrillation often take this medication to reduce their risk of stroke and other conditions associated with this illness. Xarelto can also be used to treat clotting disorders like deep vein thrombosis, and as a result can prevent deadly pulmonary embolisms from occurring.
Xarelto belongs to a class of drugs known as FXa inhibitors, according to its manufacturer, Janssen Pharmaceuticals (a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson). Xarelto decreases the rate in which a certain enzyme (thrombin) is generated, which in turn inhibits the ability to form clots. This can help diminish the occurrence of thrombotic events in patients with a greater risk of experiencing dangerous blood clot disorders.
Xarelto and Internal Bleeding
Xarelto may be associated with a significant bleeding risk when compared to other types of blood thinning medications. Medscape reports on this increased risk, with atrial fibrillation patients undergoing Xarelto treatment showing a 42 percent greater chance of gastrointestinal bleeding than those prescribed warfarin. The majority of GI bleeds affected the upper GI tract, while the remaining amount occurred in the lower tract and rectum.
While some risk factors, such as a patient’s prior medical history of bleeding, featured in the results, many other variables remained similar in both groups. As a result of these findings, researchers are urging caution when prescribing Xarelto to patients afflicted with an increased risk of stroke or blood clotting disorders. They also suggest lowering dosages, as well as closely monitoring patient’s concomitant drug use to avoid adverse events from occurring.
Other Potential Xarelto Side Effects
The Mayo Clinic lists a few other potential side effects associated with the drug:
- Numbness in the legs
- Headache
- Trouble swallowing and/or breathing
- Dysfunctional bowel and bladder
- Sensation of burning or stinging on the skin
- Vomiting or coughing up blood
There are also less common side effects that have been found in patients taking Xarelto. These can include skin lesions, pronounced feelings of fatigue and tiredness, fever, irregular heartbeat and sores in and around the mouth. In the event that side effects are severe or last for an extended period of time, patients are urged to seek additional treatment.
Xarelto Lawsuits Filed
MedPage Today points out that Xarelto has come under scrutiny in the past when the FDA questioned manufacturer claims that the drug was as effective as other blood thinning medication on the market. Citing studies comparing this medication to other available drugs, the FDA found that Xarelto was less effective at treating atrial fibrillation. Accordingly, the agency was hesitant to approve the drug for this use. This had much to do with the rates in which Xarelto patients experienced strokes and pulmonary embolisms after stopping the drug.
Additionally, those experiencing significant bleeding while taking Xarelto have pointed to the medication’s lack of reversal agent at the time the drug was initially marketed as an example of manufacturer negligence. One woman suffered from what was referred to as uncontrollable GI bleeding after being prescribed Xarelto to treat atrial fibrillation. Due to the lack of antidote, many patients are alleging that Xarelto’s manufacturers are negligent for their failure to offer adequate warnings to the medical community.
As there is usually a statute of limitations on when you can pursue a claim, it is important that you consult with a Virginia Xarelto lawsuit attorney to find out what your options are.
How a Virginia 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 Attorney Group for Virginia. 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.
