An Illinois resident filed a Xarelto lawsuit against the drug maker Janssen Pharmaceuticals, alleging that the blood thinner caused severe internal bleeding and other serious side effects.

Many Xarelto (rivaroxaban) users claim that the drug was intended to prevent blood clots after surgery. Patients are taking legal action against Janssen Research & Development and others for failing to warn about possible Xarelto side effects, or even death. 

According to a recent Xarelto lawsuit, plaintiff William F. Haney began taking Xarelto in June 2013 for a week for pulmonary embolism, which is a blockage caused by a blood clot in the lungs. Haney suffered severe internal bleeding allegedly as a direct side effect of taking Xarelto, requiring immediate hospitalization.

Xarelto has been advertised as an alternative to warfarin, a different kind of treatment that requires more monitoring and a specific diet. However, there is an antidote to warfarin should there be a complication. But in the case of a Xarelto hemorrhage, there is no such solution. Though taking Xarelto might be simpler (taking a daily or twice-a-day pill), the safety risks are significantly greater.

Xarelto Advertising

Xarelto was approved in 2011 and was heavily promoted until June 2013, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Prescription Drug Promotion said Xarelto advertising was “false or misleading” because it minimized Xarelto risks.

In spite of this step, Xarelto became very profitable for Janssen to manufacture and promote, making over $2 billion in sales in one fiscal year. Haney claims this profitability is part of the reason why Janssen failed to properly warn users of Xarelto side effects. Even though the promotional material stopped, the medical community and general public already assumed that Xarelto would be safe to use.

However, in the first quarter of 2013 alone, 680 serious adverse events were reported to the FDA. Other studies began comparing Xarelto to similar medications and treatments and concluding that Xarelto had a higher risk. Even Germany was finding Xarelto hemorrhaging side effects in some users.

Xarelto Lawsuit Claims

Haney claims that the warnings for medication are inaccurate and inadequate, causing serious pain and suffering and very dangerous internal bleeding. Other plaintiffs have made similar claims.

One of the allegations in the Xarelto lawsuit is fraudulent concealment: “Defendants knew or were reckless in not knowing that its representations were false … and intentionally omitted … material information.”

Haney is seeking damages for the pain and suffering he has undergone due to Xarelto side effects, according to the Xarelto lawsuit. Many others allege they have experienced similar Xarelto complications and have acted similarly to Haney. A Xarelto side effects class action lawsuit investigation is currently underway.

The Xarelto Side Effects Lawsuit is William F. Haney v. Janssen Research and Development LLC, et al., Case No. 3:14-cv-00988, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Benton Division.