Xarelto Litigation on the Rise

Xarelto is one of the latest drugs on the market to come under attack due to its potentially harmful and even life-threatening side effects. The first lawsuit involving Xarelto was filed last August by a Kentucky resident who claims she was hospitalized due to severe internal bleeding caused by taking the medication. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and names Bayer Health Care as a defendant. In her Complaint, the plaintiff alleges that the manufacturer knew about the drug’s dangerous side effects and continued to sell it without informing consumers of the risks.

Xarelto (rivaroxaban) is an anticoagulant, or blood thinner, that was introduced in 2011 after receiving its U.S Food and Drug Administration approval. It was approved for use by patients (1) who have had hip replacement surgery or knee replacement surgery to reduce the risk of blood clots, or (2) who have atrial fibrillation for reducing the risk of stroke. It was also approved for treatment of pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. The drug is manufactured by Bayer Health Care and marketed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary. It is intended to prevent blood clots from forming which can obstruct vital organs. The benefit of Xarelto over other anticoagulants on the market is that it can be prescribed in one uniform dose instead of requiring specific doses for each individual patient.

Unfortunately, there are many side effects associated with the drug. These side effects include internal bleeding, blood clots, embolism, and hemorrhaging. Essentially, the drug can cause uncontrolled bleeding to occur inside a patient’s body; and if that bleeding occurs near a major organ, the blood flow to that particular organ becomes interrupted and can cause it to lose some functionality. These are the same side effects associated with the anticoagulant Pradaxa, which has been on the market since 2010 and has similarly come under attack. Boehringer Ingelheim-the manufacturer of Pradaxa-has paid close to $650 million to resolve the thousands of cases brought against it due to the drug’s harmful bleeding side effects.

If you or a loved one is taking Xarelto, contact your health care profession immediately to discuss your medical options. If you have experienced any of the side effects discussed above, call The Higgins Firm today to learn about your legal options. Our experienced Nashville Xarelto attorneys will evaluate your case and help you determine the best course of action to take. Your initial consultation is free and completely confidential.