The popular blood thinner Eliquis, commonly prescribed to patients after hip or knee surgery, has been linked to life-threatening internal bleeding. New reports show the anticoagulant that was marketed as a safer, more convenient blood thinner may be placing patients at a significantly greater risk of bleeding internally with no way to stop it.

Numerous Eliquis lawsuits claim the drug manufacturers Pfizer and Bristol-Meyers Squibb failed to warn patients of the dangerous side effects that have been associated with the medication.

Eliquis joined the new line of blood thinners in 2012 and began being marketed as a better alternative to the more traditional anticoagulant Warfarin (coumadin). It is widely prescribed throughout the U.S. to treat the common heart disorder atrial fibrillation and is given to patients after knee and hip replacement surgery to reduce the risk of blood clots and strokes.

Drug marketers praised the new blood thinner as “proven better than Warfarin” with claims that patients no longer have to follow dietary restrictions or suffer through monthly blood tests like they did with Warfarin. However, Eliquis patients filing lawsuits against the blood thinner makers claim the internal bleeding side effects and lack of antidote were not fully explained in the drug’s warning.

Patients taking Warfarin that experience uncontrollable bleeding can be given a dose of vitamin K to stop it. Eliquis patients who suffer internal bleeding will have to undergo multiple blood transfusions as the only way to get it under control is to get the medication out of the system.

Eliquis side effects

The most commonly reported Eliquis side effects include intestinal bleeding, bleeding on the brain or kidney bleeding.

Symptoms of internal bleeding include:

• Black or red stools
• Red, pink or brown urine
• Coughing up or vomiting blood
• Vomit that looks like coffee grounds
• Joint pain
• Swelling
• Dizziness
• Headaches

Eliquis lawsuits claim that drug makers intentionally downplayed the medication side effects while they over-marketed the product.

Blood Thinner Lawsuits

Eliquis, Pradaxa and Xarelto are part of the new generation of blood thinners that have been on the market for only a few years yet they already face thousands of lawsuits.

Patients who were prescribed Eliquis for atrial fibrillation treatment or after surgery and later suffered internal bleeding are choosing to hold the manufacturers accountable for lack of warning. Some consumers choose to file an individual Eliquis lawsuit while others join an Eliquis class action lawsuit.   

Eliquis lawsuits typically claim that manufacturers failed to adequately warn of the life-threatening side effects linked to the medication. Plaintiffs sue for negligence, misrepresentation, fraud and strict products liability. The financial compensation awarded from Eliquis lawsuits can help cover current and future medical bills as well as reimburse patients for the pain and suffering associated with internal bleeding.

Contact an Eliquis attorney to see if it would be more beneficial to file an individual lawsuit or join an existing Eliquis class action lawsuit.