Pharmaceutical giants Pfizer Inc. and Bristol Myers Squibb are facing a new Eliquis bleeding lawsuit from a Louisiana man alleging serious internal bleeding injuries.

The man alleges in his Eliquis bleeding lawsuit that the companies failed to warn him against the potential complications that he could experience from taking their medication, including the long term health conditions he now has to contend with.

After discussing the treatment option with his physician, plaintiff Joseph R. had been prescribed Eliquis on June 23, 2013, to treat his atrial fibrillation.

At no point during his prescription was he or his physician aware of internal bleeding complications, nor did the company provide any disclosures.

Joseph had stayed on Eliquis until April 2016, during which he only used the medication for its intended treatment purpose.

During the entirety of his prescription, Joseph followed all prescription instructions and physician advice. Even though he was very diligent while taking Eliquis, he still suffered internal bleeding injuries.

According to his Eliquis bleeding lawsuit, Joseph suffered severe internal eye bleeding on Aug. 25, 2015, and continued experiencing problems with the conditions for several months. While he did get the internal bleeding complication treated, Joseph is now partially blind in his right eye.

He is filing this Eliquis bleeding lawsuit, alleging he now has to contend with chronic pain and suffering in direct result of using the new generation anticoagulant.

Overview of Eliquis Bleeding Complications

Eliquis is the most recent addition to a line of new generation anticoagulants, each of which were approved to compete against original blood thinner Warfarin. Before the approval of Pradaxa in 2010, Warfarin had been the only anticoagulant available on the market.

Approved by the FDA in 2012, Eliquis was released as a joint effort between Pfizer and Bristol Myers. While it quickly became a success, patients started reporting internal bleeding problems soon after its release.

Like other anticoagulants, Eliquis is often prescribed to treat atrial fibrillation and to reduce the chances of blood clot attacks.

Blood thinners work by inhibiting the body’s clotting mechanism, which improves the body’s blood flow circulation. At issue is that the body’s ability to recover from internal bleeding injuries is also inhibited, which puts the patients at risk for potentially fatal complications. At this time, only Warfarin has a widely available reversal agent.

Even though this is important safety information for patients and prescribing physicians, Pfizer and Bristol Myers allegedly failed to mention the possibility on the Eliquis warning label. According to his Eliquis bleeding lawsuit, Joseph states that the companies either knew or should have known of these complications.

Joseph states that he never would have taken Eliquis if he had known the risks of internal bleeding.

In his Eliquis bleeding lawsuit, Joseph is seeking damages for multiple counts of negligence and failure to warn.

The Eliquis Bleeding Lawsuit is Case No. 764-100, in the 24th Judicial District Court of the Parish of Jefferson, State of Louisiana.