Pharmaceutical giants Johnson & Johnson and Bayer AG face a woman’s new Xarelto hematoma lawsuit that alleges she suffered adverse effects and complications after being prescribed the anticoagulant medication.

Plaintiff Kathleen M. of Ohio files her Xarelto hematoma lawsuit in Louisiana federal court, joining an increasing multidistrict litigation (MDL) against the companies. The Xarelto hematoma lawsuit was filed on Jan. 12, 2018.

According to the Xarelto hematoma lawsuit, Kathleen says that she was prescribed Xarelto (rivaroxaban) to prevent the risk for developing a pulmonary embolism (PE).

She says that she was prescribed Xarelto from approximately July 26, 2015 to Dec. 13, 2015; for a week from Dec. 19, 2015 to Dec. 24, 2015; and from Jan. 2, 2016 through February 2016.

However, the lawsuit claims, on Dec. 25, 2015, Kathleen suffered a mediastinal hematoma and was “caused to sustain severe personal injuries, pain, and emotional distress, requiring nine days of hospitalization.”

The Xarelto hematoma lawsuit is filed on multiple counts including strict liability, manufacturing defect, design defect, failure to warn, negligence, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, negligent misrepresentation, fraud, and among others.

Xarelto Hematoma Lawsuit

Xarelto (rivaroxaban), approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2011, is prescribed to reduce the risks of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), strokes, pulmonary embolism (PE), and blood clots. Xarelto is also commonly prescribed to prevent blood clotting after hip or knee surgeries.

Xarelto works by inhibiting specific proteins present in the bloodstream that contribute to blood clotting.

Although marketed as a superior anticoagulant medication, Xarelto puts patients at risk for developing internal bleeding side effects. One reason for this is that in comparison to other anticoagulants, such as warfarin, it does not have an antidote to stop severe internal bleeding.

There are currently more than 18,000 lawsuits pending over Xarelto side effects. What is being alleged against the Xarelto manufacturers is that they were aware of the severe potential risks of their drug, including internal bleeding side effects, but failed to disclose such pertinent information to patients and the medical community.

Plaintiffs like Kathleen also claim that medical practitioners were urged to prescribe Xarelto without conclusive and proper information of the risks for the development of life-threatening complications.

These accusations are being extensively denied by Xarelto’s manufacturers, and arguably so, as billions of annual sales and revenue are at risk. Xarelto is by far still a popular anticoagulant medication. However, time and time again, patients allege they have seen their health and safety traded in for large profit margins and revenue.

Those who have filed Xarelto lawsuits claim that they have suffered quite severe side effects. Some of the complications include gastrointestinal, retinal, and cranial hemorrhaging. Other severe adverse side effects include stroke, excessive blood loss, adrenal bleeding, epidural hematoma, and wound infection and complication.

The Xarelto Hematoma Lawsuit is Case No. 2:14-md-02592-EEF-MBN, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The Xarelto MDL is In re: Xarelto (Rivaroxaban) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2592, in the same court.