Bristol-Myers Squibb has been doing well financially, and its stock valuation is currently higher than average as of an analysis done in late May.

One of the driving forces behind the success of Bristol-Myers Squibb is its sale of an anticoagulant drug, Eliquis.

In the first quarter of 2016, the company’s Cardiovascular segment was responsible for contributing almost 16.7% of total revenue. The sale of Eliquis has doubled since the first quarter of last year.

Along with its popularity and financial success, however, Eliquis has also brought a number of devastating side effects resulting in many lawsuits against the manufacturer.

Eliquis Side Effects

Eliquis is used to prevent blood clots and stroke due to atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heart rhythm where the blood is not correctly pumped out of the heart. This can cause blood to pool and form clots.

When the clots forming travel throughout the body, they can cause serious consequences such as stroke and pulmonary embolism. In a pulmonary embolism a blood clot occurs in the lungs; it is very serious and often fatal if not treated immediately.

Eliquis works by blocking the body’s natural clotting mechanism so clots are not formed. This is helpful when needed, but sometimes clots are needed in the body to help seal off wounds.

Like all its other anticoagulant counterparts, the blood thinner Eliquis carries the risk of internal bleeding due to its use.

When the body can’t clot blood to stop bleeding, the consequences can be devastating. Internal bleeding from Eliquis is a particularly dangerous side effect when it affects the gastrointestinal system or the brain.

With the older anticoagulant, warfarin, if patients suffered from internal bleeding they could be given an antidote to reverse the bleeding and restore the bodies clotting processes. With Eliquis, however, there is no reversal agent available, and internal bleeding can thus become uncontrollable.

Eliquis Lawsuits

Many patients and their families were surprised to find out that there was no way for medical personnel to intervene in the event of an internal bleeding emergency.

Many of the patients on Eliquis had formerly been on warfarin, and if they needed quick treatment to reverse the bleed, it was available to them.

Eliquis patients claimed that they were not made aware of the potentially severe Eliquis side effects, like internal bleeding. They say if they had been made aware, they would have not chosen to take a drug where the internal bleeding could not be stopped with medical intervention.

Eliquis lawsuits filed against Bristol-Myers Squibb have been filed by plaintiffs who wish to hold the manufacturer accountable for the safety of their product, and hope to save others from the risks of taking the drug.

If you or a family member has experienced severe Eliquis side effects such as brain hemorrhage or gastrointestinal bleeding, or other bleeding events linked to Eliquis use, you may be entitled to receive legal compensation.

A lawyer experienced in filing Eliquis lawsuits can review your case during a complimentary case review to help you determine if taking legal action is right for you.