Product Liability Lawyer Blog
According to a recent news article from the Cook County Record, a woman has just filed a lawsuit against Bayer and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Pharmaceuticals, who are the makers and U.S. marketing partners of the New Oral Anticoagulant (NOAC) Xarelto.
This lawsuit alleges that, after taking Xarelto, she suffered serious physical injury. She is alleging that the drug Xarelto was defectively designed, causing her to suffer these severe medical effects and that the companies failed to warn her of these known defects.
As our Boston Xarelto attorneys have seen in many cases, this drug, along with its classmates Eliquis and Paradaxa, are capable of causing a severe internal bleeding disorder without warning. This can include intracranial bleeding, which can result in a traumatic brain injury or death. In the case of Xarelto, there is no antidote (reversal agent) approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
In this particular lawsuit, the plaintiff is seeking $50,000 or more and any additional relief the court or a jury finds are in the interest of justice. Fortunately, for this plaintiff, she has survived the harmful side effects that were the result of the alleged defects in Xarelto, but many patients were not so fortunate. There is often nothing doctors can do to stop the bleeding, and more that 60 patients have died as a result of this drug.
The reason people are taking Xarelto is because they suffer from a serious medical condition known as atrial fibrillation (Afib). This is an irregular heartbeat that is not caused by a defective heart valve. If a patient suffers from Afib, they are likely to form blood clots that are not necessary for the healing process, and these clots can form internally, such as deep within the legs. When these blood clots form deep within the veins of the legs, they are known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). These DVT clots can break free from where they are formed and travel through the patient’s bloodstream. If they reach the lungs, they can actually punch a hole known as a pulmonary embolism (PE). A PE is a very serious medical condition that often results in death of the victim. If the clots reach the brain, they can cause a stroke.
Xarelto and the other NOACs are supposed to stop these clots from forming, as they are anticoagulants. However, while these drugs are new, Warfarin (Coumadin) has been used for decades to treat patients with Afib and to prevent patients from developing DVTs for other reasons, such as after a major surgery.
While Warfarin has been proven safe if taken correctly, patients must have frequent blood tests to make sure they are getting the right dose, and they must also avoid eating foods high in vitamin K, like dark green leafy vegetables such as kale. If the dose is not correct, this drug can cause a serious internal bleeding disorder. However, this condition is preventable and reversible at a hospital, unlike the problems caused by Xarelto.
If you are a victim Xarelton and live in Massachusetts, call Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers for a free and confidential appointment — (617) 777-7777.
Additional Resources:
Woman’s lawsuit vs Bayer AG, others adds to litigation over Xarelto, November 18, 2016, By Louie Torres, Louisiana Record
More Blog Entries:
Risk for Internal Bleeding after Taking Pradaxa, August 22, 2014, Boston Dangerous Drugs Injury Lawyer Blog