Xarelto (rivaroxaban) is a medication used to prevent clots in the blood, otherwise known as an anticoagulant or blood thinner. It has been on the market since 2008 and is manufactured by Bayer.

As with any over-the-counter or prescription medication, side effects are common with the use of drugs. Many times the side effects are mild and may wane and disappear once the body adjusts to the medication. In other cases, the side effects experienced by patients can be severe – or even fatal.

Xarelto Side Effects

With Xarelto, the following side effects are common and are usually mild in nature, and may reduce or disappear with continued use:

• Itching
• Back pain
• Headache
• Pain in the extremities
• Muscle pain or spasm
• Lightheadedness or fainting

One of the most dangerous Xarelto side effects is internal bleeding. Because Xarelto’s method of action involves the drug inhibiting the body’s natural clotting mechanism, any patient can be at risk for increased internal bleeding. A patient may have had no issues with bruising or internal bleeding in the past, but may experience these Xarelto problems on the medication.

Internal bleeding may be difficult to determine at first since the site of the bleeding cannot be visualized. Most often, internal bleeding as a result of Xarelto side effects is located in the gastrointestinal tract or in the brain.

The following signs and symptoms indicate the possibility of internal bleeding Xarelto side effects:

• Red, black or tarry stools
• Vomiting up a substance that resembles coffee grounds
• Red or dark brown urine
• Bruising
• Unusual pain
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Low blood pressure
• Weakness
• Loss of coordination or balance
• Vision difficulties
• Slurring of speech
• Extreme sleepiness or loss of consciousness

With an older anticoagulant drug that was a staple for six decades, warfarin, there was an antidote to reverse bleeding. Patients could have fresh frozen plasma and intravenous vitamin K administered to stop the bleed.

However, with Xarelto, there is no antidote, and if the bleeding is too severe despite emergency intervention, the bleeding can be fatal.

Xarelto Internal Bleeding Lawsuits

Lawsuits against Xarelto’s manufacturer, Bayer, are so numerous that they have all been consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) to address the allegations.

In an MDL, the lawsuits are all set to a single court under a single judge so that pretrial discovery may be streamlined. A small group of cases are then selected as “bellwether” cases to represent the group to see how the proceedings will play out.

Such a process allows for non-duplicative discovery and allows the cases to have similar rulings and outcomes.

In the Xarelto MDL, there are over 3,000 cases currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana with trials set to begin in August of this year.

These lawsuits generally allege that Bayer negligently and fraudulently misrepresented the product, breached warranties, and violated consumer protection laws and seek damages for medical expenses, loss of spousal companionship, lost wages and earning capacity and more.

If you or someone you loved experienced internal bleeding Xarelto side effects or other Xarelto problems, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit. An experienced Xarelto attorney can review your case at no charge and can explain your legal options to you.