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Blood-Thinner Xarelto Facing Lawsuits

Michael Agruss

Written and Reviewed by Michael Agruss

  • Managing Partner and Personal Injury Lawyer at Mike Agruss Law.
  • Over 20 years of experience in Personal Injury.
  • Over 8000+ consumer rights cases settled.
  • Graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law: Juris Doctor, 2004.

Generally speaking, the more common particular conditions are among the general public, the easier it may be for doctors and medical researchers to develop and improve effective treatments. One condition which has seen many forms of treatment over time is atrial fibrillation (AFib), a form of rapid/irregular heart-rate which may cause poor blood-flow, leading to blood clots in more serious cases.

Fortunately for individuals with atrial fibrillation, a variety of anticoagulants (blood-thinners) are available to help prevent the formation of blood clots and lower the risks of developing serious conditions such as dementia and coronary artery disease. “Warfarin,” also known as “Coumadin,” is perhaps the most commonly-known medication of its kind and patients who take it must be monitored regularly. This consistency is necessary due to the variety of blood clots that exist: while there are “bad” clots which Warfarin works to prevent, there are also “good” clots, such as those which occur naturally to block a source of bleeding.

Warfarin works by reducing an individual’s Vitamin K levels, as Vitamin K plays a key role in natural blood-clotting. Of course, there are natural risks associated with its use: excessively large doses may seriously reduce the blood’s ability to clot, which can cause a bleed to become life-threatening. While warfarin’s risks may easily be mitigated with vitamin supplements and the medicine itself remains among the most common for its purpose, its generic alternatives may not be so trustworthy.

Xarelto was first approved in 2011 for the same general purpose as warfarin; rather than reducing Vitamin K levels, however, xarelto literally thins the blood in a more direct way. This, combined with the lack of a medically-approved method of counteracting overly-thin bleeding, makes it particularly dangerous if not used properly, as there is no way to “re-thicken” blood after it has been thinned by xarelto. Serious reactions to this pill have been reported and include:

  • Blood clots
  • Embolisms
  • Hemorrhaging
  • Internal bleeding
  • Death

Now four years since its debut, xarelto has brought forth a storm of legal troubles for Janssen Pharmaceutica (a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson) and Bayer as injuries related to internal bleeding are startlingly high among xarelto users and lawsuits have generally come as expected. The first such lawsuit was filed by Virginia Stunebeck of Philadelphia, PA, who was hospitalized due to severe internal bleeding after taking xarelto in February 2013. Since then, a class action with over 200 additional plaintiffs, overseen by U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon, has formed to secure “significant” compensation for those who have suffered injuries due to the pill.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury or loss of any sort due to taking xarelto as prescribed, contact 844 See Mike for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury in an accident. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you.

Lastly, 844 See Mike is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.

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