Janssen Research & Development LLC, Johnson & Johnson, Bayer Healthcare, and a number of their subsidiaries and partners are being sued in a Xarelto lawsuit by a Tennessee woman, who alleges she sustained injuries from using their anticoagulant medication, Xarelto.

Xarelto is a popular blood thinning medication that has recently come under legal fire for causing many individuals to suffer from painful and sometimes fatal bleeding complications.

Background on Xarelto Lawsuit

According to the Xarelto lawsuit, plaintiff Patsy G. was diagnosed with Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) thrombus in 2013, meaning that she is at an increased risk of suffering blood clots. To reduce the risk of clotting, Patsy was prescribed Xarelto by her physician in March of the same year. The plaintiff claims she took this prescription for two months as instructed and when she visited her doctor again in June 2014, she was given yet another Xarelto prescription for 20 mg doses.

The Xarelto lawsuit claims that two months after starting her second Xarelto prescription, Patsy suffered bleeding problems in her gums and also experienced fatigue. She immediately reported these Xarelto side effects to her physician.

In September 2014, Patsy claims she had abdominal cramps followed by bloody bowel movements, leaving her weak and causing her to lose a significant amount of blood. In light of these Xarelto bleeding complications, she was admitted to Holston Valley Medical Center, where Patsy was diagnosed with gastrointestinal bleeding.

The Xarelto lawsuit states:

“While she was at Holston Valley Medical, [Patsy’s] Physicians noted that there was no reversal agent on the market for Xarelto, but to treat her with units of plasma and blood to help replenish the blood she had lost and reduce the effects of the Xarelto . . . As a result of being prescribed and properly using Defendants’ Xarelto, [Patsy] was caused to suffer a severe bleed requiring blood and plasma transfusions, several CT and PET scans, a colonoscopy, and hospitalization.”

Patsy was discharged from her local hospital a few days after she was hospitalized for her Xarelto internal bleeding complications. She claims in this Xarelto bleeding lawsuit that had she known of the risks associated with the anticoagulant medication, she would not have used Xarelto.

Because of the blood thinner, Patsy claims she suffered serious and dangerous side effects, like severe bleeding, and has sustained personal injuries, including: physical pain and mental anguish, decreased enjoyment of life, and hospitalization/medical treatment financial expenses.

Xarelto Litigation Claims

This Xarelto lawsuit brings several allegations against the defending pharmaceutical companies responsible for creating, marketing, and selling the Xarelto blood thinner. These claims include: negligence, strict liabilities as to warnings, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranties, fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and deceit, violation of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, and punitive damages.

Patsy has asked the court for relief in the form of compensatory damages, special or economic damages, punitive damages, pre and post-judgment interest, award of attorney’s fees, leave to amend the complaint, and any other forms of relief deemed fit by the court.

The Xarelto Lawsuit is Case No. 2:15-cv-00205-JRG-MCLC, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.