A New York woman has filed a Xarelto GI bleed lawsuit against the manufacturers of the anti-coagulant medication, on behalf of a patient who allegedly died from Xarelto side effects.

Plaintiff Sharon G. files the Xarelto GI bleed lawsuit against Janssen Research & Development and Johnson & Johnson on behalf of decedent Gloria F.

According to the Xarelto GI bleed lawsuit, Gloria was a resident and citizen of New York state. She began using the medication in May 2014 until approximately March 2015.

However, as the Xarelto GI bleed lawsuit states, Gloria “experienced gastrointestinal bleeding and anemia on March 2015 which required extensive hospitalization and medical treatment and which ultimately contributed to her death.”

Some of the other adverse effects and complications alleged include life-threatening bleeding, physical pain, mental anguish, and diminished enjoyment of life. Gloria also allegedly suffered from her loss of earnings, including expenses for medical treatment and hospital stay.

Sharon’s claim is filed as part of a large multidistrict litigation, or MDL, centered on allegations that Xarelto causes severe adverse effects and complications including dangerous gastrointestinal bleeding.

Xarelto Anti-Coagulant Medication Facts

Xarelto, also known as rivaroxaban, is a relatively new kind of blood thinning medication. It is prescribed to patients who are at risk of developing blood clots. Although there are some benefits to the medication, some patients have reported suffering from extreme adverse effects and complications.

Xarelto is prescribed to patients who suffer from atrial fibrillation, a kind of abnormal heart rhythm. It is also prescribed to prevent deep vein thrombosis, or the formation of blood clots that occur in the body’s lower extremity, and pulmonary embolism, a condition in which one or more arteries in the lungs becomes blocked by a blood clot.

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are some common side effects of Xarelto and other, more serious complications that have led to patient death. Some common side effects include bleeding gums back pain, dizziness, headaches, leg weakness, numbness, paralysis, and the vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds.

Clinical Studies Called Into Question

According to the Xarelto GI bleed lawsuit, a study termed the ROCKET AF study had discovered that Xarelto was not inferior to warfarin, the drug’s competitor. But the study allegedly found that “bleeding from gastrointestinal sites, including upper, lower, and rectal sites, occurred more frequently in the rivaroxaban group, as did bleeding that led to a drop in the hemoglobin level or bleeding that required transfusion.”

The Xarelto GI Bleed Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-11555-EEF-MBN and is part of the Xarelto MDL, In re: Xarelto (Rivaroxaban) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2592, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.