A Delaware man filed a Xarelto bleeding lawsuit against Janssen Research & Development, alleging that the anticoagulant caused gastrointestinal bleeding that required hospitalization.

Plaintiff Victor G., in 2012 was prescribed Xarelto with the intention of reducing his risk of stroke and systemic embolism. At the time, based on the information given by the drug manufacturer, the lawsuit says he believed Xarelto was at least as safe and effective as other options, and that the benefit was greater than the risk.

However, the lawsuit says that while taking Xarelto, the plaintiff began coughing up blood. He claims that taking Xarelto caused permanent injuries.

Xarelto Bleeding Side Effects

Xarelto (rivaroxaban), an anticoagulant produced by Bayer Healthcare, was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2011. Janssen markets Xarelto.

The drug was intended to treat patients undergoing hip or knee replacement surgeries, but was later approved to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism. In 2012, the Xarelto label was updated to include an indication for treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).

This Xarelto bleeding lawsuit and others like it allege that a series of clinical trials well known in the medical community revealed a link between Xarelto and major bleeding events, such as gastrointestinal bleeding. The studies indicated that Xarelto had a higher rate of major bleeding complications than other drugs.

“Major bleeding” indicates that the bleeding involved a critical organ, led to re-operation, or fatalities.

Xarelto bleeding lawsuits claim that Janssen was not only aware of these studies and the bleeding risks of Xarelto, but failed to report these major bleeding complications as significant adverse effects. On top of this, the lawsuits allege that Janssen failed to adequately warn consumers and the medical community about the major bleeding risk associated with Xarelto.

Despite the manufacturer’s alleged knowledge of these risks, the company continued to market Xarelto in a manner the lawsuit describes as negligent and misleading, diminishing the concern for the serious risks of the drug.

The lawsuit alleges negligence, breach of express and implied warranties, fraudulent misrepresentation and concealment, and negligent misrepresentation.

Xarelto Bleeding Lawsuits

Xarelto is facing hundreds of Xarelto bleeding lawsuits. These lawsuits claim the drug makers failed to be transparent in the warnings about bleeding side effects.

Because there is no antidote for Xarelto bleeding, lawsuits also allege that the drug maker should be held accountable for distributing the drug without have a way to reverse potentially life-threatening side effects.

Plaintiffs further allege that drug makers had a responsibility to provide blood level monitoring for users of the drug, especially after recent studies which have suggested blood level monitoring might significantly assist doctors to care for patients who use Xarelto.

If you or someone you know has experienced Xarelto side effects such as Xarelto bleeding, you may be able to join a class action Xarelto bleeding lawsuit.

The Xarelto Bleeding Lawsuit is Case No. 2:15-cv-015940-EEF-MBN, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.