Xarelto Lawsuits Show Rise In Uncontrolled Bleeding Risks

Xarelto, Bayer’s blood thinner formulated to prevent blood clots and lower the risk of stroke, may also cause uncontrolled bleeding that can lead to hospitalization and even death.

Xarelto is an anticoagulant developed by Bayer and Johnson & Johnson’s New Jersey-based unit, Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Unlike other anticoagulants that require doctors to prescribe specific doses for each individual patient, Xarelto is prescribed in one uniform daily dose for those who suffer from atrial fibrillation (AF), a condition that affects about three million Americans and causes blood to pool in a storage chamber of the heart, where it can clot and travel to the brain.

FDA Approval

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Xarelto in July 2011 to reduce the risk of blood clots, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with a history of knee or hip replacement surgery. In November 2011, the FDA expanded the approval for Xarelto to include using it to reduce the risk of stroke in people with AF. Then in 2012, the FDA approved Xarelto for the general treatment and recurring risk of DVT and PE.

Side Effects 

Xarelto is known to cause some severe side effects, including:

• Uncontrolled bleeding resulting in death
• Abdominal bleeding
• Rectal bleeding
• Brain hemorrhage
• Abnormal liver function
• Reduced platelet levels

Xarelto has no known antidote for uncontrolled bleeding, and the drug’s manufacturers have yet to release information for doctors on how to treat the condition. Doctors have been encouraged to recommend that patients with liver or kidney problems, those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed should not take Xarelto.

In Germany, the number of side effects from Xarelto appears to be increasing. In the first eight months of 2013, German regulators received 968 records of side effects, including 72 deaths, and many physicians are hesitant to continue to prescribe the drug.

Lawsuits 

According to Reuters, Bayer is now facing its first lawsuits in the U.S. over Xarelto, one of the company’s top five medications in terms of sales last year. The suits allege that there should have been a warning communicated about the risks of uncontrolled bleeding associated with Xarelto, and that marketing induced doctors to prescribe the drug even though there were less dangerous and less expensive alternatives available, according to court documents.

If you have suffered uncontrollable bleeding or if your loved one lost life due to bleeding after taking Xarelto we can help. Contact the attorneys of Childers, Schlueter & Smith for a free case evaluation and consultation to learn more about your legal rights and options. Our experienced drug injury lawyers will work closely with you and fight for the maximum compensation for your injuries.