A Georgia resident recently filed a new lawsuit against Janssen Pharmaceuticals, alleging its drug Xarelto caused him to suffer from a Xarelto hematoma and life-threatening bleeding.

According to the May 31 complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, the plaintiff accuses Janssen Pharmaceuticals of advertising Xarelto as safer and more effective than it is, and even actively concealing its potential risks like Xarelto hematoma and dangerous bleeding complications.

Plaintiff Charles S. began taking Xarelto at the direction of his doctor in July 2014, and continued taking the drug for a full year, through July 2015. Throughout that year-long period, Charles experienced no serious side effects of the drug.

However, on July 27, 2015, he says he suffered from an abdominal hematoma and subsequent life-threatening bleeding complications that he alleges was a direct result of using Xarelto. These injuries also led to physical pain, mental anguish, hospitalization and medical expenses.

The Xarelto hematoma lawsuit was filed on multiple counts, including negligence, strict products liability, breach of express and implied warranties, fraudulent misrepresentation and concealment, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and deceit and violation of consumer protection law.

Xarelto Basics

Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a prominent subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, is the manufacturer of popular anticoagulant Xarelto (also known by its generic name, rivaroxaban).

Xarelto entered the U.S. market on July 1, 2011, and belongs to a class of blood thinners known as New Oral Anticoagulants (“NOACs”). These drugs are used to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism by preventing blood clotting.

Other drugs in this class include popular anticoagulants Pradaxa and Eliquis. NOACs are some of the most popular blood thinners currently available.

Even though Xarelto is undoubtedly popular, more and more injured patients like Charles are filing lawsuits against Janssen over serious complications like Xarelto hematoma and life-threatening bleeding problems.

These lawsuits allege that, though Janssen knew about the Xarelto hematoma bleeding linked with the drug, it failed to adequately warn both consumers and the medical community about these Xarelto risks.

While Xarelto is used to prevent often dangerous blood clots, clots can, in an emergency bleeding situation, be a body’s only available life-saving function. In extreme situations like a serious accident, emergency surgery, or internal bleeding, the body forms blood clots in order to slow bleeding.

Patients taking blood thinners like Xarelto, however, may be unable to form these life-saving clots in these kinds of situations, and may suffer from Xarelto side effects as a result.

Xarelto complications, including internal bleeding, can lead to permanent injury or even death.

Filing a Xarelto Hematoma Lawsuit

If you or someone you love has suffered from complications like Xarelto hematoma or life-threatening bleeding caused by Xarelto, you may be able to file a Xarelto lawsuit.

While filing a lawsuit cannot reverse the pain and suffering of Xarelto hematoma, excessive bleeding, or other Xarelto complications, it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses and lost wages.

The Xarelto Hematoma Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-05386-EEF-MBN, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.