Three lawsuits have recently been filed in New York against Bristol-Myers Squibb over severe Eliquis bleeding problems. According to these lawsuits, Eliquis can cause serious and even life-threatening side effects like irreversible bleeding.

The lead plaintiffs in these lawsuits are Robert T., Carmen C., and James D. Each alleges that after taking Eliquis, they suffered from Eliquis bleeding problems and blood loss.

According to the Eliquis bleeding problems lawsuit, the drug’s manufacturers “concealed and failed to completely disclose their knowledge that Eliquis was associated with or could cause life-threatening bleeding in specific patient populations and failed to fully identify and convey the risks of use of Eliquis at the same time as other blood-thinning agents, such as aspirin.”

The plaintiffs claim that Eliquis’ manufacturers, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer, Inc., were actually aware early on about the serious side effects of their drug. The drugmakers allegedly were aware of “serious hemorrhaging” in patients who took their drug, but failed to act on this knowledge.

Despite knowledge of these risks, they continued to market Eliquis aggressively, claiming that it was safer than other, similar drugs, according to the Eliquis bleeding problems lawsuit.

The manufacturers not only overstated Eliquis’ effectiveness compared to other drugs—they also, the lawsuits claim, failed to disclose one other very important fact: Eliquis, unlike many other blood thinners, had no reversal agent for stopping Eliquis bleeding problems.

The Eliquis Bleeding Problems Lawsuits are Case Nos. 154745/2017, 154740/2017 and 154694/2017 in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York.

Background of Eliquis

The popular anticoagulant Eliquis (also known by its generic name, apixaban) is a relatively new blood thinning drug. Eliquis belongs to a class of blood thinning medications known as Factor Xa Inhibitors.

Since their introduction to the drug market, Factor Xa Inhibitors like Eliquis have begun to replace the traditional anticoagulant, warfarin.

Despite the undeniable popularity of Eliquis, this drug has actually been linked with serious side effects, including Eliquis bleeding problems.

Eliquis Bleeding Problems

Though most Eliquis side effects are mild and go away on their own, Eliquis bleeding problems can become extreme or even life-threatening. Internal bleeding is a common side effect that is to be expected of blood thinners. Anticoagulants work to stop blood clots from forming since blood clots are often dangerous.

In some situations, however, blood clots can actually be one of the body’s only defenses against bleeding excessively. In these cases, a person taking Eliquis or another blood thinner would be unable to form these life-saving blood clots, placing them at greater risk.

Unlike most anticoagulants, Eliquis does not yet have an antidote that can reverse its effects in case of emergency. This means that patients suffering from serious Eliquis bleeding problems may be in greater danger than those who took another kind of anticoagulant.

Filing a Lawsuit over Eliquis Bleeding Problems

Though filing an Eliquis lawsuit cannot undo the damage of serious Eliquis bleeding problems, or bring a loved one back to life, it may be able to help compensate for financial expenses incurred by medical bills or lost wages.

If you or someone you love has taken Eliquis or a similar medication and has since suffered from major Eliquis bleeding problems, you may be able to file an Eliquis lawsuit.