Eliquis, a popular anticoagulant manufactured by Pfizer and Bristol-Meyers Squibb has been linked to serious bleeding complications. Personal injury attorneys are currently looking for potential Eliquis plaintiffs to bring Eliquis injury lawsuits against the drug manufacturers for failing to warn the medical community and the general public of the dangerous risks associated with taking the medication.

Overview of Eliquis

Eliquis, generically known as apixaban, is a part of a new generation of blood thinners. Eliquis is third in line following Pradaxa and Xarelto. This anticoagulant is often used to treat patients with atrial fibrillation (an irregular heart beat), or is given to patients who recently underwent knee or hip replacement therapy. The medication works by keeping platelets in blood from coagulating or clotting. Eliquis was approved by the FDA in 2012, shortly after Pradaxa and Xarelto hit the market.

These new blood thinners were aggressively marketed to the public as superior to the more traditional and established anticoagulant, warfarin, also known as coumadin. Eliquis drug manufacturers engaged in direct to consumer marketing, targeting not only medical professionals but individual consumers as well. Eliquis marketers capitalized on the fact that patients taking Eliquis, unlike patients taking warfarin, did not have to follow strict dietary restrictions or undergo blood monitoring.

Unfortunately for Eliquis patients, the blood thinner has no known antidote. Warfarin patients who experience excessive bleeding can be given a dose of vitamin K, sometimes mixed with fresh or frozen plasma, to slow or stop the bleeding. This is not the case with Eliquis. Eliquis side effects include bleeding of the brain, intestinal bleeding, kidney bleeding, deep vein thrombosis, and uncontrolled bleeding. According to FDA adverse event reports, these three anticoagulants are some of the most dangerous medications on the market.

Overview of Eliquis Lawsuits

Eliquis and similar drugs like Pradaxa and Xarelto have been a major target of recent litigation. Personal injury attorneys predict there will be an upswing in Eliquis lawsuits as several cases progress through the judicial system. Eliquis lawsuits generally allege drug manufacturers, Pfizer and Bristol-Meyers, violated consumer protection laws. Claims against these companies include negligence, strict products liability, fraud and deceit, breach of warranty, and misrepresentation.

Eliquis lawsuits are being bought by victims who allegedly suffered adverse side effects from taking the blood thinners and family members of victims who have already passed away. In some cases victim’s spouses will join the lawsuits as co-plaintiffs in order to bring loss of consortium claim. Loss of consortium claims are brought by a spouse claiming the defendant caused a loss of spousal intimacy or spousal relations. Loss of consortium claims generally cannot be brought on their own and must be joined with another lawsuit. These claims are generally brought in hopes of receiving a larger award or settlement. Compensation received from successful Eliquis lawsuits help victims pay past and future medical bills and will hopefully begin to compensate victims for the pain and suffering they endured.

Plaintiffs may choose to bring an Eliquis lawsuit individually or join an Eliquis class action lawsuit. This decision should be made on a case by case basis with the guidance of a legal professional.