Although your situation is tragic, it’s not uncommon. Xarelto has been discovered as the cause of a number of deaths and serious personal injuries. Xarelto is an anti-coagulant, and it was designed to treat atrial fibrillation. If left untreated, atrial fibrillation causes an irregular heartbeat as well as problems with the circulation system. Xarelto was also later approved to treat deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms.
For decades, the standard drug that was used to treat atrial fibrillation was warfarin. Warfarin is sold under the brand name Coumadin, as well as other names. Warfarin’s effects can be reversed with vitamin K as well as other methods.
Xarelto was advertised as an alternative to warfarin, which has been around since the 1950s. The makers of Xarelto told patients the drug had a number of benefits, including that they would not need to undergo regular blood monitoring with Xarelto, which was required with warfarin. However, patients who were prescribed Xarelto actually had a greater risk of internal bleeding, strokes, and brain hemorrhages, as well as a greater risk of paralysis. Also, if excess bleeding did occur in patients, there was no agent to reverse it like there was with warfarin.
A number of lawsuits are underway against the makers of Xarelto by patients who have been harmed by the drug. If your loved one was harmed by Xarelto, you should speak with an attorney. He or she may be able to join one of the lawsuits already underway, or may choose to file a new lawsuit. Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles product liability attorney at 310-385-0567. My team can help. Call today to learn more.