A Xarelto lawsuit was recently filed on behalf of a Kentucky woman alleging she suffered severe internal and gastrointestinal bleeding after using the prescription blood thinner Xarelto (rivaroxaban). The Xarelto lawsuit was filed on February 18, 2014 in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
“Several more Xarelto lawsuits are expected to be filed in the litigation in the following months,” commented Emmie Paulos, a Xarelto lawyer with the Levin, Papantonio law firm.
The Levin, Papantonio law firm is currently investigating cases where Xarelto-induced internal bleeding may have occurred, and has launched a Xarelto Lawsuit website to assist those who may be seeking to have their Xarelto use evaluated by an experienced Xarelto lawyer. The site features updates on the litigation and a form for users to submit details about their situation for a free case evaluation to determine if a Xarelto lawsuit can be filed.
The formal complaint filed on behalf of the Kentucky woman claims that the plaintiff began taking Xarelto in July 2012 for the treatment of her atrial fibrillation, a heart condition that causes blood to pool in the heart. In February 2013, the woman was treated for severe internal and gastrointestinal bleeding that allegedly developed from her Xarelto use, and required hospitalization for several days of treatment.
Additionally, the complaint alleges that Xarelto parent manufacturer, Johnson and Johnson, and its co-marketer, Bayer Healthcare AG, failed to inform consumers and physicians of the increased risks of internal bleeding associated with Xarelto use.
There is currently no reversal agent available to treat internal bleeding caused by Xarelto use. Because of the lack of treatment options available, those who suffer a Xarelto-induced internal bleeding event run the risk of severe injury and even death.
Xarelto has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patients suffering from atrial fibrillation and other serious cardiovascular complications to help in the prevention of blood clots and strokes. Xarelto has also been prescribed to patients undergoing knee and hip replacement surgeries to aid in the prevention of deep vein thrombosis (blood clots deep within the body) and pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs).
Xarelto belongs to a class of anticoagulant drugs knowns as factor Xa inhibitors, and is manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson. Xarelto was introduced to the market in July 2011, and has grown to be a popular choice over a much older prescription blood thinner drug known as warfarin (Coumadin). Now, the dangers of Xarelto have prompted the first Xarelto lawsuit.
Krysta is a writer and researcher with Ring of Fire. Follow her on Twitter @KrystaLoera.
