A Xarelto lawsuit claims that the anticoagulant caused a life-threatening bleeding event within one week of use.

Plaintiff Anita G. claims she used Xarelto (rivaroxaban) as prescribed by her physician starting in February 2014 to prevent blood clots. After using the medication for only one week, Anita allegedly had bleeding on a knee wound from February through May 2014.

The Xarelto lawsuit claims that the manufacturer did not fully disclose the severe side effects of the product. This omission of safety information has been alleged to cause severe problems for some individuals taking the blood thinner.

According to plaintiff Anita, the bleeding was so severe that it was considered irreversible and life-threatening. Not only did the plaintiff report physical damage from the drug, she also claims financial loss, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life.

Seven counts are brought up against Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, as well as Bayer including five counts of product liability (construction or composition defect, design defect, inadequate warning, breaches of express and implied warranty), and breach of warranty of fitness for ordinary use.

Anita is seeking compensatory damages or her pain, suffering, emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life as well as economic damages to recover lost earnings, medical expenses and other damages.

Xarelto Overview

Xarelto is an anticoagulant drug used to prevent the formulation of blood clots. It was approved in 2011 and is considered a newer generation blood thinning drug compared to Warfarin (Coumadin).

Doctors and physicians were eager to try this new medication that promised to be easier to administer than Warfarin. With manufacturers alleging that Xarelto required no need for a special diet and or frequent monitoring.

Xarelto is used to reduce stroke risk in individuals with atrial fibrillation, and treat deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).

Xarelto Side Effects

Like Warfarin and other blood thinners, the main side effect or complication of using the drug is an increased risk of bleeding complications. Since the drugs prevent clotting, the body can’t use it’s normal method of clotting the blood to stop bleeding from a wound, either internal or external.

With Warfarin, however, there was a reversal agent that could be used to stop the excess bleeding. Fresh frozen plasma and intravenous vitamin K were used as an antidote to curtail the bleeding. With Xarelto, however, no such antidote exists. The medical team is only able to try and control the symptoms after the patient has been instructed to stop Xarelto and the only way to have the blood return to normal and start clotting again is to wait until the medication has been metabolized out of the body.

Xarelto Bleeding Lawsuits

Many individual lawsuits as well as multidistrict litigation (MDL) lawsuits have been filed against the makers of Xarelto for their allegedly defective drug and lack of adequate safety information describing bleeding risks.

If you have suffered from a Xarelto injury with Xarelto gastrointestinal bleeding, pulmonary bleeding, or any other Xarelto bleeding you may qualify for legal compensation. An Xarelto lawyer can review your case at no charge and can assist you in exploring your legal options.

The Xaretlo Lawsuit is Case No. 2:15-cv-01081-EEF-MBN in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.