Product Liability Lawyer Blog
Xarelto, Pradaxa, and Eliquis are three of four New Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs) that are all fighting with each other and the makers of Warfarin (Coumadin) to become the market leader for medications used for the prevention of serious blood clotting disorders in patients who suffer from a medical condition known as atrial fibrillation (Afib). Afib patients have an irregular heartbeat that can cause large blood clots to form deep within the veins of the legs. These clots can break free of the veins in which they form and travel through the circulatory system to the lungs, where they can cause a deadly tear known as a pulmonary embolism (PE).
As described in a recent industry feature from FiercePharma, in order to prevent these clots from forming, doctors will typically prescribe an oral medication. For many years the gold standard was Warfarin (Coumadin), and this medicine is actually a blood thinner. While it is every effective in treating Afib patients, it is not the most convenient for patients, and there are some risks. If the dose of medication is off, the patient may suffer a serious internal bleeding condition. However, the patient can monitor his or her diet closely, as certain foods affect the rate of Coumadin absorption, and he or she can have regular blood tests to make sure the dosage is correct.
The makers of the NOACs want patients to believe their new medications are as effective or more effective than Warfarin and do not pose the same risks, because the dosage is generally the same for all patients. The problem with these medications, including Xarelto, is that some patients will develop a serious internal bleeding disorder while taking Xaretlo, and there is no antidote currently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat these patients. When these patients realize they have a serious internal bleeding disorder, which can include intracranial bleeding, they are often taken to the emergency room, where they are told there is nothing that can be done to help them. Many of these patients have died as a result of injuries caused by Pradaxa or Xarelto.
While the drug companies knew of the potentially deadly risks and took steps not to warn the patients and doctors that people were getting sick, the hundreds of millions of dollars in profits were obviously too important to risk by having voluntary warnings and reports to the FDA. There are already class action lawsuits going on with patients in Boston, and, if you or a loved one have been harmed by Xarelto, it is important to call a Xarelto injury lawyer as soon as possible, so your rights are preserved. The reason for this is because, based on the way class action lawsuits work, what happens now may affect the rights of future victims, so it is important to get involved as early in the process as possible. This can seriously increase the chances you will receive a full and appropriate financial recovery for the harm done to you or a loved one as a result of defective drug that was negligently marketed to millions of patients in the Untied States.
If you are the victim of a Massachusetts drug injury due to taking Xarelto, call Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers for a free and confidential appointment — (617) 777-7777.
Additional Resources:
How can Pradaxa, Xarelto and Eliquis finally unseat warfarin? Safety data, analyst says, September 30, 2015, FiercePharma
More Blog Entries:
Risk for Internal Bleeding after Taking Pradaxa, August 22, 2014, Boston Dangerous Drugs Injury Lawyer Blog