Late last year, Pennsylvania’s first Xarelto trial concluded with a Philadelphia jury awarding $28 million to an Indiana woman who was injured by the drug. In January of this year, however, the verdict was dismissed due to insufficient evidence in relation to the substantial award. Three other Pennsylvania plaintiffs are requesting leave to amend their complaints. As stated in their request, they wish to “reorganize the allegations and provide more details about the actions and inactions that form the bases of already-existing causes of action.”

But Xarelto manufacturers, Bayer and Johnson & Johnson aren’t thrilled about this request.

“Plaintiffs should be required to complete this bellwether stage of the litigation under their existing pleadings,” argued the companies in March. “To allow otherwise, on the very eve of trial, would inject significant prejudice into the administration of these cases.” A Boston drug injury lawyer can help you determine how to proceed if you’ve been injured by Xarelto or any other defective or dangerous drug.

The three remaining Pennsylvania plaintiffs are but a drop in the bucket of the many Xarelto victims nationwide. Currently, Bayer and Johnson & Johnson are facing more than 21,000 Xarelto lawsuits, most of which are pending in multi district litigation (MDL) in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana.

What’s the Problem with Xarelto?

As with all anticoagulants (blood thinners), Xarelto carries the risk of excessive bleeding or hemorrhaging, but unlike its predecessor, warfarin, there is no antidote to stop internal bleeding caused by Xarelto. In the past, when someone developed internal bleeding from warfarin, they would be administered a combination of fresh blood plasma and vitamin K and the bleeding would quickly cease. But this does not work with bleeding in Xarelto patients. As a result, many have developed serious health problems, and some have died.

The first lawsuit related to Xarelto was filed in 2014. Shortly thereafter, hundreds of patients began coming forward, claiming that the drug had caused them serious harm, including:

• Brain hemorrhage
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Rectal bleeding
• Epidural hematoma
• Pulmonary embolism
• Death

Since then, the cases against Bayer and Johnson & Johnson have piled high. Even so, Xarelto continues to be marketed to patients as a lower-maintenance alternative to warfarin.

Misleading Marketing

Plaintiffs in many of the Xarelto lawsuits allege that the drug’s manufacturers knew about the risks but downplayed them to deceive physicians and patients. Case in point—a 2013 marketing campaign claiming that—due to the drug’s safety—patients didn’t need to be bothered with the pesky blood monitoring required of warfarin. As a result, the drug’s popularity soared…and so did injuries. They even marketed the drug’s dosage as “one size fits all.” A MA drug injury lawyer can help you determine how to proceed if you’ve been injured by Xarelto or any other prescription medication. Continue reading

Xarelto is an anticoagulant (blood thinner) used to treat certain medical conditions, such as atrial fibrillation, stroke, and deep vein thrombosis. Although this drug and others in its class are quite effective, they carry the risk of serious side effects, some which can be life-threatening. As a result, Xarelto manufacturers, Bayer and Johnson & Johnson, are facing thousands of lawsuits.

All anticoagulants can cause excessive bleeding, and Xarelto is no exception. The difference between Xarelto and its predecessor Coumadin, however, is that Coumadin has an antidote to stop this bleeding. No such antidote exists for Xarelto. As a result, several hundred deaths have been linked to this dangerous drug. Despite the risk of fatal hemorrhaging, Xarelto has surpassed its competitors, racking up more than $1 billion in sales.

More than 18,000 Lawsuits Filed

As of September 2017, nearly 18,000 lawsuits have been filed against Bayer and Johnson & Johnson. These cases have been consolidated into Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) in Louisiana, and are currently in discovery. The injuries range in severity from minor injury to death. As such, there will probably be multiple tiers of settlements. Based on past MDL cases with similar injuries and recent settlements paid by Bayer and J&J in Yaz cases (another of the manufacturers’ dangerous drugs), the majority of the settlements will likely range from $100,000 to $300,000. Of course, they could be much higher or much lower, depending on various factors. A Boston drug injury lawyer can help you determine how to proceed if you’ve been harmed by Xarelto or another dangerous drug.

Symptoms of Excessive Bleeding

Xarelto is linked to many side effects; some are minor and some can be life-threatening. Common minor side effects include back pain, leg weakness, and bladder problems. If you develop any side effects, it’s a good idea to consult with your physician. However, symptoms of excessive bleeding are of special concern. If you develop any of the symptoms below, seek immediate medical attention. You may be suffering from internal bleeding.

• Chronic nose bleed
• Bleeding of the gums
• Urine that is brown, red, or pink
• Uncontrollable bleeding
• Black or red stool
• Unusually-heavy vaginal or menstrual bleeding
• Coughing up blood
• Severe headaches
• Dizziness
• Feeling weak
• Vomiting blood, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds

As with many drugs that are similar to drugs already on the market, Xarelto was approved by the FDA following a fast-track approval process. Unfortunately, pharmaceutical companies are often so eager to get an exciting, new drug on the shelves that they don’t allow enough time for adequate safety testing.The lawsuits allege that Xarelto manufacturers failed to warn patients of the risks associated with their drug. A prominently-placed warning label or package insert would have allowed patients and doctors to weigh their options and choose an alternative if they so desired.

And it’s not just excessive bleeding that can be life threatening. A 2012 study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery revealed that patients taking Xarelto after hip or knee surgery have nearly four times the risk of wound complications than those taking Heparin. A MA drug injury lawyer can help you obtain the compensation you deserve if you’ve been injured by a dangerous Continue reading

Medical complications linked to blood-thinning medication Xarelto have been making headlines the past few years, but the most recent news reports are especially disturbing. The anticoagulant is still being prescribed, despite reports that the drug was linked to more than 15,000 adverse events in 2016. According to a recent study by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), the number of injuries and deaths related to Xarelto continues to climb.

ISMP’s study revealed that serious injuries and fatalities related to Xarelto increased by 41 percent last year. As with all anticoagulants, Xarelto can cause excessive, uncontrolled bleeding. However, this controversial drug is missing one very important quality of its predecessor, warfarin; there is no antidote to the bleeding. When a patient on warfarin experiences uncontrolled bleeding, a physician can administer a dose of vitamin K and fresh plasma to stop the bleeding. This combination acts as a reversal agent. No such reversal agent exists for Xarelto.

More than 3,000 Deaths Linked to Oral Blood Thinners Last Year Alone

Oral blood thinners including Xarelto resulted in more E.R. visits than any other type of medication in 2016. ISMP said that more than 3,000 deaths were related to these blood thinners last year. Of the blood thinners involved, Xarelto accounted for more than 68 percent of all adverse events. This shocking report coincides with the first trials in the more than 18,000 lawsuits against Xarelto’s manufacturers, Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Bayer Healthcare.

“These injury findings are disheartening, but unfortunately not all that surprising,” said Andy Birchfield, an attorney representing the plaintiffs in the Xarelto multidistrict litigation (MDL). “The statistics are testament that Xarelto is one of the most high-risk drug treatments in medicine today, and the reason we are pursuing justice for the victims of this potentially deadly medication.” A Boston drug injury lawyer can help you determine how to proceed if you’ve been harmed by taking Xarelto.

Failure to Warn

Lawsuits allege that Janssen and Bayer failed to warn patients and physicians of the risks of taking Xarelto, and that the companies aggressively marketed the blood thinner as superior to warfarin. Xarelto was marketed as a more convenient, lower-maintenance alternative to warfarin, but the increased risks were kept a secret.

Xarelto Side Effects

Multiple medical complications have been linked to Xarelto use. Among them are:

• Internal bleeding
• Wound complications
• Infection
• Brain hemorrhaging
• Abdominal bleeding
• Excessive, uncontrolled bleeding
• Bleeding from the eyes
• Abnormal liver function
• Spinal epidural hematoma (blood clot in the spine)
• Stroke
• Death

Despite all of these risks, Xarelto is still being prescribed to new patients every day. A MA defective drug lawyer can help you determine how to recover damages if you’ve been injured by Xarelto or a similar drug. If you are currently taking Xarelto to prevent blood clots – or for any other reason – it may be in your best interest to discuss the risks with your physician. Continue reading

Xarelto is a type of anticoagulant (blood thinner) medication that quickly grew in popularity following its release in 2011. For decades, warfarin had been the only reliable treatment for patients with blood-clotting disorders, such as atrial fibrillation and deep vein thrombosis. Although effective, warfarin requires regular blood monitoring. Xarelto, on the other hand, does not. Unfortunately, in an effort to fulfill the skyrocketing prescription orders for this new, low-maintenance drug, adequate safety testing may have been “overlooked.”

All anticoagulants carry a risk of excessive bleeding and hemorrhaging, but warfarin has an antidote. If excessive bleeding occurs while undergoing treatment with warfarin, the physician can administer a dose of vitamin K and fresh blood plasma, and the bleeding will stop. Unfortunately, no such antidote exists for Xarelto users. A MA drug injury lawyer can help if you’ve suffered medical complications after taking Xarelto.

Manufactured by Bayer and Johnson & Johnson, Xarelto has thousands of reported complications and adverse event reports with the FDA. Despite these risks, Xarelto sales continue to rise. It has even surpassed sales of other drugs in its class, including Eliquis and Pradaxa, both of which are also linked to excessive bleeding.

How Does Xarelto Work?

Xarelto and other drugs in its class work by blocking a blood protein called Factor Xa, which is responsible for initiating the blood’s clotting process. By blocking Xa, a clotting enzyme called thrombin is not produced, and clots do not form. It can take up to 24 hours for Xarelto to be eliminated from a person’s system. For older adults, it may take even longer and the anticoagulation effects may last longer.

Complications Linked to Xarelto

The use of Xarelto and similar drugs carries the risk of excessive bleeding, but this is not the only complication. Additional medical conditions associated with this drug include:

• Tingling sensation in muscles
• Itching
• Arm or leg pain
• Muscle pain
• Liver problems
• Wound bleeding that does not stop
• Congestion
• Sinus irritation
• Jaundice
• Fainting
• Hemorrhaging
• Death

Xarelto News

• As of November 2016, there were 13,700 reported lawsuits pending in Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) against Xarelto manufacturers.

• According to the American Medical Association, patients undergoing treatment with Xarelto have a higher rate of death than those using Pradaxa.

• The Institute for Safe Medication Practices named Xarelto the nation’s most dangerous drug in 2016.

• In 2015, more than 10,000 Xarelto-related complications were reported to the FDA.

Our Lawyers can help if you have been harmed by taking Xarelto or a similar drug, such as Pradaxa or Eliquis. If you are undergoing Xarelto treatment and are concerned about the risks, it may be wise to speak with your health care provider. If you develop any of the following symptoms while on Xarelto, seek immediate medical attention:

• Bleeding gums
• Red or brown urine
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Black stool
• Heavy vaginal bleeding
• Coughing up blood clots
• Feeling dizzy
• Feeling weak or fatigued
• Severe headaches
• Vomit that looks like coffee grounds or contains blood

Continue reading

According to a recently-released report by the news organization ProPublica, manufacturers of the anticoagulant (blood thinner) Xarelto made more physician payments than any other drug company in 2015. Physician payments were made for promotional speaking, travel, gifts, and meals. But not for research. Past studies have shown that when physicians receive payments from a drug manufacturer, they tend to prescribe more of that manufacturer’s drugs than those who do not. Considering the high risk of serious, potentially life-threatening side effects linked to Xarelto, this is certainly cause for concern.

Each year, ProPublica gathers information about payments made by pharmaceutical companies to physicians for promos, travel, royalties, etc. Across the board, pharmaceutical and medical device companies made approximately $2 billion in physician payments in 2014 and 2015, with Xarelto payments taking the cake in 2015. ProPublica’s study is not the only one to find that these payments result in higher prescriptions of related drugs. Researchers at Harvard Medical School had similar findings in 2016. In a study of medical industry payments to physicians in Massachusetts, they found that for every $1,000 a physician received, his or her rate of prescribing the associated drug increased by 0.1 percent. If you have been injured by a dangerous or defective pharmaceutical, contact a Boston drug injury lawyer today.

Xarelto Linked to Excessive Bleeding

There are currently more than 11,000 Xarelto lawsuits pending in the U.S. It goes without saying that plaintiffs in these cases will likely use the findings from the ProPublica report to support their claims that Xarelto’s manufacturers, Johnson and Johnson and AG Bayer, failed to warn physicians and patients about the risks associated with the drug. Marketed as a low-maintenance alternative to warfarin, Xarelto quickly rose in popularity. Due to high demand, Xarelto’s manufacturers may have rushed the product to market without adequate safety testing. Although all anticoagulants come with an increased risk of excessive bleeding (hemorrhaging), warfarin has an antidote to that bleeding, known as a reversal agent. To date, Xarelto has no such reversal agent. Excessive bleeding has resulted in thousands of injuries and some deaths. If you have been harmed by a defective prescription drug, contact a MA drug injury lawyer today.

Symptoms of Internal Bleeding

If you are currently undergoing Xarelto treatment, talk to your doctor about the risks of excessive bleeding. As internal bleeding may not be immediately apparent, it is important to look for possible signs. If the bleeding is rapid and severe, blood may collect under the skin, forming a bulge or discolored spot. Severe bleeding may result in shock or loss of consciousness. If you develop any of the symptoms below, seek immediate medical attention:

• Uncontrollable bleeding
• Dark urine
• Dark stool
• Unexplained bruises
• Blood clots
• Cough that produces blood
• Blood in vomit
• Unexplained pain
• Joint pain
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Fatigue

Lawsuits allege that Xarelto manufacturers failed to warn physicians about the risk of uncontrollable bleeding, that the drug was defectively designed, and that warning labels were not updated in a timely manner. Johnson & Johnson and Bayer AG are also under fire for not recalling Xarelto when the risks became apparent. Continue reading

Xarelto, a blood-thinning medication, was deemed in 2011 to be a safe alternative to traditionally-used warfarin medication in preventing blood clots, which can lead to life-threatening strokes and other ailments. Despite the drug being tested and approved as safe, thousands of cases have emerged over the years that suggest the drug is anything but safe in all applications.  The appeal for a warfarin replacement drug is obvious. Warfarin requires those who take it to adhere to a special diet and mandates keen attention by the patient and doctors to ensure that it is having the intended effect. Xarelto was marketed as a more simplified version of warfarin, achieving the same results but without the drastic change in lifestyle.

Xarelto is intended to thin the blood to prevent a blood clot condition known as deep vein thrombosis, which can occur in many places throughout the body but can also lead to developing blood clots in the lungs (known as a pulmonary embolism, a potentially fatal condition.) The most common applications of Xarelto are in people who have just underwent surgery, or people with atrial fibrillation, a heart condition which increases the risk for strokes.   Xarelto has worked successfully for many patients, but conversely, thousands of patients taking Xarelto have experienced excessive bleeding and even blood clots as a result. There is no easy cure for somebody who has a negative reaction to Xarelto and, as a result, there have been thousands of lawsuits filed as a result of the pain, suffering and medical expenses incurred by those taking Xarelto and their families.

Xarelto is a multi-billion dollar cash cow both for its manufacturer, Bayer, and for its pharmaceutical marketing company, Janssen Pharmaceuticals (a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson). Despite the legal trouble and real cases of patients having life-altering consequences from taking the drug, the FDA recently reiterated that the drug is safe to be taken by patients with heart complications.

Do not take Xarelto if…

• You have an artificial heart valve
• You have an established history of uncontrollable bleeding
• You have underwent spinal surgery or had a spinal tap
• You are on a regular regiment of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIs) such as Motrin, Advil, Aleve, etc.
• You experience stomach or intestinal bleeding
• If you are already on a regiment of aspirin, warfarin, Plavix, or certain antidepressants

The only way to know for sure if you are going to be okay taking Xarelto is to have an in-depth and detailed discussion with a doctor. The problem with Xarelto is not that it is inherently unsafe, but rather it is that there are a multitude of side effects and other conditions that can cause patients to have a life-threatening reaction. Continue reading

Xarelto is a popular anticoagulant (blood thinner) used by thousands of patients at risk of blood clots, atrial fibrillation, and stroke. Marketed as a lower-maintenance alternative to predecessor Coumadin, the relatively new drug grew quickly in popularity. Although Xarelto doesn’t require the regular patient monitoring required by Coumadin, it does have at least one significant drawback – there is no antidote to hemorrhaging or excessive bleeding caused by Xarelto. To be fair, this is much more than a drawback; patients have died.

More than 7,000 lawsuits directed at Xarelto manufacturer, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, have been reported as of this date. Many of these lawsuits claim harm due to uncontrolled bleeding following Xarelto use and failure to warn patients of life-threatening side effects. All anticoagulants have a risk of excessive bleeding. But there’s one major difference. Excessive bleeding linked to Coumadin can be stopped. If a patient begins to hemorrhage after being treated with Coumadin, the bleeding can be halted with relative ease by administering an antidote. Basically, the patient is injected with a combination of vitamin K and fresh blood plasma to reverse excessive bleeding. No such antidote exists for Xarelto.

The first Xarelto-related lawsuit was a wrongful death suit filed against Janssen Pharmaceuticals in 2014. Since then, thousands more have joined, resulting in the formation of a Xarelto multidistrict litigation (MDL). Massachusetts Xarelto patients who have experienced uncontrolled bleeding after using the drug should contact a MA drug injury lawyer today.

Xarelto Patients Twice as Likely to Suffer from Stomach Bleeding

In response, Portola Pharmaceuticals has manufactured a possible antidote called AndexXa. However, the FDA has requested more information before it will allow AndexXa to be released to the public. It may be wise of the FDA to prevent AndexXa’s release until they are sure it is safe, but physicians and patients hope a safe option hits the shelves soon. Too many patients have been seriously injured, or have died, as a result of Xarelto use. In fact, studies show that patients taking Xarelto have double the risk of developing stomach bleeding as patients taking a different medication.

Potentially Life-Threatening Risks Linked Associated with Xarelto

Xarelto isn’t the only drug of its type linked to these serious health complications. Pradaxa and Eliquis, two newer drugs belonging to the same category, also have no antidote. Risks associated with Xarelto, Pradaxa and Eliquis include: Continue reading

As with any anticoagulants (blood thinners) on the market today, Xarelto increases the risk of hemorrhaging, also known as excessive bleeding. However, patients on Xarelto have more than double the risk of stomach bleeding than those on another type of blood thinner. Furthermore, there is currently no antidote to reverse excessive bleeding in Xarelto patients. In response to the growing number of lawsuits against Xarelto manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals, some of the thousands of lawsuits have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL). Contact a Boston Drug Injury Lawyer Today.

A popular blood thinner, particularly among adults undergoing knee and hip replacement surgeries, Xarelto can treat everything from risk of blood clots and hypertension to irregular heart rhythm and other heart conditions. Touted as a low-maintenance alternative to Coumadin, Xarelto is now at the core of thousands of lawsuits alleging serious harm or death. The husband of a patient who died after receiving a blood transfusion to treat Xarelto-related bleeding sued Janssen claiming the company failed to warn physicians and patients about the risks.

Drug companies have a duty to test pharmaceuticals and obtain FDA approval before marketing those drugs to the public. Once that approval is in place, drug companies are required to warn physicians and patients of any known risks or side effects. Failure to properly design or test a drug, or failure to warn the public about associated risks and side effects can result in serious problems for the drug manufacturer.

More than 6,000 Lawsuits Filed Against Xarelto Manufacturer

According to the report released by the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, a total of 6,457 lawsuits are currently pending against Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Of those cases, 40 have been consolidated into one case in Louisiana federal court. These cases, scheduled to begin in early 2017, will be tried as bellwether cases, setting the tone for upcoming Xarelto lawsuits.

Common Side Effects Associated with Xarelto

Side effects can range from mild to severe. If you develop any of these symptoms or side effects while taking Xarelto, it’s in your best interest to contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible.

• Bleeding gums
• Bloody stool
• Bowel problems
• Bladder problems
• Back pain
• “Pins and needles” or tingling feelings
• Excessive itching

Continue reading