Drug Injury Lawyers Blog
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.
Altman & Altman, LLP – Drug Injury Lawyers Serving Boston and the Surrounding Areas
If you have been injured by Xarelto or any other dangerous medication, the skilled legal team at Altman & Altman, LLP can help. When pharmaceutical companies put profits before the health and safety of the general public, they should be held accountable for their actions. If you have been harmed, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. At Altman & Altman, LLP, we have an impressive track record of obtaining compensation for our clients. Our attorneys will ensure that you fully understand your rights and options before moving forward, and we will be with you throughout the entire process. Don’t go through this difficult time alone. Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation about your case.
