Woman bleeds to death after using Xarelto

The daughter of a Tennessee woman who bled to death after using Xarelto, has filed a lawsuit on her mother’s behalf against JANSEN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LLC, the makers of the drug in the United States. The lawsuit asserts that Jansen failed to adequately warn of the dangerous bleeding that could occur as a result of using Xarelto. According to court documents, the decedent started using Xarelto in October 2013 and suffered two “life threatening bleedings” between November and December 2013 which “eventually led to her death” in March 2014.

Xarelto (Rivaroxaban) is an anticoagulant (blood thinner) that is prescribed to prevent and treat blood clots. It is typically used to treat a type of blood clot known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) which can occur after certain types of surgery, including knee and hip replacements. Xarelto is also prescribed to lower the risk of stroke for people with atrial fibrillation, “an irregular (and often) rapid heart rate” that causes poor blood circulation. One of the most dangerous side effects associated with Xarelto is a risk of bleeding. People who take the drug are likely to bruise more easily and it may take longer for bleeding to stop. Taking Xarelto with other medications such as aspirin may increase the risk even more.

According to the lawsuit Xarelto’s boxed warning did not adequately address the increased risk of bleeding especially when taken in light of the findings of a clinical trial sponsored by the drug’s manufacturer that noted that in comparison to warfarin, a similar drug, “patients taking Xarelto have more gastrointestinal bleeds and need more transfusions.” In addition the complaint, citing a report by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, asserts that the most “adverse event” related to using the drug was not the risk of bleeding but pulmonary embolism, a condition where a blood clot generally travels from the legs and causes a blockage in the arteries of the lungs. Ironically, this is a condition that Xarelto is intended to prevent.

The lawsuit also asserts that in spite of this knowledge, Jansen continues to market Xarelto without adequate warning. At present Xarelto does not include a FDA black box warning (the strongest warning required by the FDA) describing the irreversible bleeding related to using the drug, which effectively deprives doctors of critical information in prescribing the drug when could have deadly implications for consumers.
According to the complaint, Jansen’s failure to warn of the severity of the most dangerous side effects of using Xarelto resulted in the death of Emily Pigg, the mother of the plaintiff bringing the lawsuit. Ms. Pigg’s physician prescribed the drug for atrial fibrillation and after using it “suffered a hemorrhagic stroke and internal bleedings in November 2013 and in December 2013.” The complaint further alleges that she was not able to recover and as a result she succumbed to her injuries in March 2014.

If you use or have used Xarelto and have suffered any of the serious side effects discussed here, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. The attorneys at Jacoby & Meyers are qualified to assist you in evaluating your case. An attorney experienced in Xarelto litigation can help you file your lawsuit and protect your rights within the statute of limitations allowed by the law.

Please contact our defective drug lawyers today to schedule your free initial consultation. Jacoby & Meyers has offices nationwide.

Zachary Mayberry, student intern Jacoby & Meyers, LLC.