A Texas woman has filed a lawsuit against Xarelto manufacturers after suffering from gastrointestinal bleeding that required a blood transfusion and lengthy hospitalization.

Plaintiff Tesfay A. claims she was prescribed the blood thinner to treat deep vein thrombosis, but within one week of taking the medication she experienced agonizing Xarelto bleeding. She alleges that makers and marketers of Xarelto fraudulently misrepresented the blood thinner as tested and found to be safe for its intended treatment.

The plaintiff Tesfay is seeking more than $75,000 in damages from defendants Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc. for personal injuries she has sustained.

Xarelto Bleeding Risks

Xarelto is a relatively new blood thinner treatment that was FDA approved in 2011 to prevent stroke and blood clots in patients after undergoing hip or knee replacement surgery. Xarelto was marketed as a more convenient anticoagulant when compared to the traditional Warfarin (Coumadin) as Xarelto does not require monthly blood testing or have dietary restrictions. However, recent studies found that patients taking Xarelto have an increased chance of internal bleeding and currently there’s no way to stop it.

Warfarin patients who experience excessive bleeding can be given a dose of Vitamin K to get it under control. Xarelto patients have to undergo blood transfusions until the medication is out of their system, as there is no antidote available that would stop Xarelto bleeding. Plaintiff Tesfay claims she was not cautioned that should Xarelto bleeding occur there was no reversal agent.

The Xarelto lawsuit claims “the original U.S. label approved when the drug was first marketed in the U.S. did not contain a warning regarding the lack of antidote, but instead only mentioned this important fact in the overdosage section.”

The plaintiff alleges manufacturers intentionally concealed their knowledge of the life-threatening Xarelto side effects from the FDA, the medical community, and patients.

Xarelto Serious Adverse Event Reports

Xarelto makers claim the medication is the #1 blood thinner in its class, touting its 11 million U.S. prescriptions in just a few short years. However, thousands of Xarelto users have filed serious adverse events (SAE) reports with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, claiming the medication caused life-threatening side effects. Of the SAE reports filed so far, hundreds resulted in hemorrhage-related deaths.

Other Xarelto side effects that have been reported include:

• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Brain hemorrhaging
• Abdominal bleeding
• Abnormal liver function
• Reduced platelet levels
• Low blood pressure
• Bruising
• Edema
• Dizziness
• Hemorrhaging in the eyes
• Nose bleeds
• Rectal bleeding
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Rapid heartbeat

Growing Number of Xarelto Lawsuits

This recently filed Xarelto lawsuit is one of many that claim the drug manufacturers were negligent in adequately warning of the bleeding risks linked to Xarelto. Plaintiff Tesfay claims that because the drug makers failed to fully warn by omitting important information, she will continue to suffer from permanent personal injuries. She is seeking financial compensation for damages including Xarelto bleeding, physical pain, diminished enjoyment of life, loss of earnings, and medical expenses.

The Xarelto Bleeding Lawsuit is Case No. 2:15-cv-01232-EEF-MBN, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.