Those patients taking the blood thinner, Xarelto, still don’t know that they are at an increased risk for bleeding to death. That’s because Xarelto manufacturers have kept that secret pretty well hidden. Now, lawsuits across the country are cropping up, after patients taking Xarelto have bled to death or experienced serious injury.
Unlike traditional blood thinners, Coumadin or Heparin, there is no known antidote to stop uncontrolled bleeding. Xarelto was marketed and released to the public without one. While Xarelto manufacturers are working on the antidote, none presently exists - and many people have been injured or killed as a result. To date, there have been at least 65 deaths attributed to Xarelto bleeding complications - with that number expected to climb quickly into the thousands.
Those taking Xarelto who have any of the following issues may be at a much higher risk of developing paralysis or uncontrolled bleeding:
- Patients who have previously had spinal surgery
- Patients with current spinal problems
- Patients currently taking other blood thinners
- Patients currently taking NSAIDS
- Patients with an epidural catheter
If you were harmed by the drug Xarelto, you could be entitled to collect compensation from the manufacturer for current and future medical expenses as well as damages for pain and suffering. Every lawsuit filed also holds the manufacturers of Xarelto accountable for releasing a potentially dangerous drug to consumers.
How Dangerous is Xarelto?
A report from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices identified 356 reports of serious, disabling, or fatal injury in which Xarelto was the primary suspect drug. In March 2014, the FDA required a black box warning be added to Xarelto, which warns of the risks of using Xarelto when the patient will have an epidural or spinal anesthesia or spinal puncture. Physicians are asked to monitor patients taking Xarelto and undergoing one of these procedures in order to detect signs of neurological impairment, sensory and motor deficits, and bowel or bladder dysfunction.
In some cases, paralysis can result in patients taking Xarelto and undergoing spinal/epidural anesthesia or puncture. Although the FDA has not placed uncontrollable bleeding in a black box warning, it did require the manufacturer to warn of the potential for uncontrollable bleeding under "adverse reactions." In 2013, the FDA issued a warning letter to Janssen stating the print advertisement for Xarelto minimized the risks associated with the drug and made misleading claims. The FDA stated that including risk information without the same emphasis included in the benefit section made it appear as though the risks were unimportant.
Need more information about Xarelto? Call us at Golomb Legalat (215) 278-4449.