Manufacturers have a responsibility to ensure that their products are safe to use, especially prescription drug companies. If a medication is contaminated with a toxin or leads to more side effects that are more dangerous than the condition it intends to treat, patients can experience serious harm. While the majority of prescription drugs are safe to use, Xarelto, a type of anti-coagulant, has been linked to serious and life-threatening side effects. If you are a former Xarelto patient, you may have grounds for a lawsuit.
What Is Xarelto?
Xarelto is an anti-coagulant or blood thinner medication designed to help prevent blood clots and treat other medical conditions, such as stroke, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism. Blood clots can be fatal if they reach the lungs or the heart, and are a common risk after surgery, pregnancy, or during periods of low activity.
Xarelto’s active ingredient, Rivaroxaban, helps reduce the risk of clots and protect patients from this dangerous side effect. The medication was originally manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceuticals and the Bayer Corporation, subsidiaries of Johnson & Johnson, to replace older types of anti-coagulants that required patients to submit to monthly blood tests.
Dangerous Xarelto Side Effects
Although Xarelto is marketed as a safer alternative to other blood thinners that does not require continuous monitoring, this medication can lead to dangerous and potentially fatal conditions. Some of the most dangerous potential side effects of Xarelto include the following.
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Coughing or vomiting blood
- Bloody stools
- Uncontrollable internal bleeding
- Bleeding in the brain
In response to these risks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Black Box warning for Xarelto in 2012. This designation is reserved for medications that may lead to life-threatening, dangerous side effects. Despite these serious risks, Xarelto has remained on the market and has placed patients at risk of severe injury and death.
Filing a Lawsuit Against Xarelto’s Manufacturers
If you are a former Xarelto patient and developed uncontrollable bleeding or other serious symptoms after taking the medication, you may have grounds for legal action. Since Xarelto’s manufacturers failed to properly warn the public of these serious risks, these entities may be liable for the damages that patients suffered as a result of the medication. Through a product liability lawsuit, you can recover compensation for the economic and non-economic losses you endured, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
To successfully prove a Xarelto lawsuit in Missouri civil court, you will need to provide sufficient evidence to prove four key facts.
- You were injured or suffered losses.
- Xarelto is defective.
- Xarelto’s defect caused your injuries.
- You were using Xarelto as the manufacturer intended.
What to Do After Experiencing a Xarelto-Related Injury
If you have been injured after taking Xarelto, it is important to seek medical attention immediately and save all records related to your treatment and injuries. You should also save all documents pertaining to your Xarelto use—including empty prescription bottles, notes from your doctor, and receipts from the pharmacy. This evidence will help prove that you were a former Xarelto patient and took the medication according to your doctor’s orders, as well as the nature and extent of your injuries.
Have You or a Loved One Been Injured Due to Medical Malpractice in Kansas City, Missouri?
If you believe you or a loved one has been harmed due to medical practice you should speak with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible. Please feel free to contact us online or call our office directly at 816.832.4688 to schedule your free consultation. We are proud to serve Kansas City, Missouri, and the surrounding area and look forward to speaking with you.