Thousands of lawsuits have been filed by patients who suffered severe bleeding linked to the bloodthinner Xarelto. Hundreds of deaths and thousands of cases of severe bleeding incidents or other adverse events have been reported by patients who were prescribed Xarelto to prevent blood clots.
Xarelto (rivaroxaban) is an anticoagulant medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2011. The drug is sold in the U.S. by Janssen, a division of Johnson & Johnson.
Xarelto is used to treat or prevent blood clots in patients at risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), or similar conditions. Xarelto is often prescribed to patients who have recently undergone hip or knee replacement surgery in order to prevent the formation of blood clots during the recovery period following surgery when patients are unable to walk.
Xarelto Linked to Severe Bleeding Incidents
Xarelto was intended to be an alternative to the anticoagulant warfarin (Coumadin), a drug that had been the standard medication for the treatment and prevention of blood clots for decades, but which required extensive blood monitoring and dietary changes for patient safety. Janssen marketed Xarelto to patients as a safer and more convenient alternative to warfarin.
Unlike warfarin, however, Xarelto did not have an antidote that could be administered to patients in the event of severe bleeding incidents which occurred while they were being treated with the drug. These antidotes—such as the Vitamin K used for patients who suffer severe bleeding while taking warfarin—are used to immediately counter the anticoagulant effects of the drug to stop bleeding incidents before they cause severe injury or death to the patient.
Because Xarelto lacked a readily available antidote, patients who suffered injuries while taking the drug, even minor ones, could be at risk of severe and potentially fatal bleeding incidents. Xarelto users who fall down the stairs, are involved in a car accident, or suffer other non-fatal injuries may be at risk of potentially life-threatening bleeding because they are taking Xarelto. Patients who take Xarelto may also face an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, epidural or spinal hematomas (spinal bleeding), hemorrhage, internal bleeding, or other types of severe bleeding incidents.
Lawsuits Filed Over Severe Bleeding Linked to Xarelto
The first Xarelto lawsuit was filed in 2014 by a patient who was hospitalized due to severe bleeding after being prescribed the drug. Since then, about 5,000 lawsuits have been filed against Janssen and Johnson & Johnson on behalf of patients who suffered severe bleeding incidents while being treated with Xarelto. The lawsuits allege that Xarelto has caused hundreds of deaths as well as thousands of other serious bleeding incidents.
Plaintiffs who have filed Xarelto lawsuits against Janssen and Johnson & Johnson say that the companies should have known about the risk of severe bleeding incidents that could be caused by the drug. The lawsuits allege that the companies failed to properly warn doctors and patients about the risk of potentially fatal bleeding that could occur with patients taking Xarelto.
Most of these Xarelto lawsuits have been consolidated in a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) in Louisiana. The first bellwether lawsuit in the Louisiana Xarelto litigation is scheduled to go to trial in early 2017. Several hundred cases filed against Janssen are also being handled in Pennsylvania state court as part of a mass torts litigation.
Pharmaceutical Liability Lawsuits Filed by HO&P
Patients who suffered severe bleeding or other serious adverse events caused by Xarelto may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Families whose loved ones suffered fatal bleeding while taking Xarelto may also qualify to take legal action on their behalf. The first step in filing a lawsuit is to review your case with an attorney who has the knowledge and experience with pharmaceutical and product liability cases to handle your case all the way from start to finish.
At Heygood, Orr & Pearson, we believe that when drug companies put the health and safety of patients at risk in the interest of profits, they should be held accountable for their negligence in a court of law. Our lawyers have spent years holding drug and medical device manufacturers responsible for the injuries and deaths caused by their dangerous products. Our attorneys have taken on some of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, including cases involving drugs such as the fentanyl pain patch, Yaz, Actos, Avandia, and Accutane.
Heygood, Orr & Pearson has the financial resources to handle even the most complex pharmaceutical liability cases from beginning to end. In many instances, our law firm has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in a case in order to take it to trial on behalf of our clients. Our attorneys are committed to achieving justice for our clients, whatever the cost.
If you or a loved one were injured as a result of severe bleeding caused by Xarelto, contact the lawyers at Heygood, Orr & Pearson for a free legal consultation about your case. You can reach us by calling toll-free at 1-877-446-9001, or by following the link to our free case evaluation form and answering a few simple questions about your case to get started.