Bayer HealthCare and Johnson & Johnson are facing a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL) consisting of numerous internal bleeding claims, with one of the most recent claims alleging a link between Xarelto and anemia.

The claim comes from a Pennsylvania woman alleging a correlation between Xarelto and anemia, stating the drug caused her to sustain serious internal bleeding that caused her to become anemic.

Plaintiff Mary W. has alleged a correlation between Xarelto and anemia after she experienced a potentially fatal internal bleeding event. According to the Xarelto bleeding lawsuit, Mary was prescribed the anticoagulant for typical treatment purposes in November 2015.

Most commonly, Xarelto is prescribed to patients suffering from atrial fibrillation or who are at risk for stroke or other blood clot complications. During the course of her treatment, Mary says she followed all prescription instructions and advice from her physician.

Even with this diligence, Mary experienced an internal bleeding incident on March 16, 2016 and had to be hospitalized. When she was hospital, Mary was diagnosed with blood loss anemia and hemarthrosis and was promptly taken off the medication.

Mary opted to file legal action soon after discovering Xarelto’s correlation with potentially fatal internal bleeding, but the pharmaceutical companies allegedly failed to warn the public.

Overview of Xarelto Bleeding Complications

Xarelto is a new generation anticoagulant, which works by inhibiting the body’s clotting mechanism to increase overall efficiency in circulation. However, this treatment mechanism also prevents the body from being able to recover from minor internal bleeding injuries which can quickly turn fatal.

It is important to note that Xarelto entered the market just one year after Pradaxa, the first drug to enter the market for blood thinning treatment since warfarin in the 1960s. Xarelto and other new generation anticoagulants quickly dominated the market, with patients preferring the newer drugs over warfarin for their convenience.

In contrast to warfarin, new generation anticoagulants can be prescribed in a single dose. However Pradaxa did not have an approved bleeding antidote until 2015, while warfarin patients have had a bleeding antidote: vitamin K.

One of the complications that can occur from uncontrollable internal bleeding is anemia, which is a condition that occurs if there is not sufficient red blood cells to carry oxygen.

Anemia can be chronic or short term, with treatment ranging from medical procedures to changes in diet. Xarelto and anemia have been indicated in patients before, with one of the most recent inquiries from the website ehealthme.

Approximately 87,540 Xarelto patients reported suffering side effects while taking the anticoagulant, submitting injury claims from the FDA and other social media sites. The results of the study were consolidated on Feb. 20, 2018, with 330 patients alleging they developed anemia.

Mary alleges Johnson & Johnson and Bayer HealthCare knew about the alleged correlation between Xarelto and anemia, but failed to disclose this information to the public. Mary’s Xarelto bleeding lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2592, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging similar injuries.

Mary states she would not have agreed to take the medication if she had known about the correlation between Xarelto and anemia.

This Xarelto Bleeding Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-01532-EEF-MBN, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.