In 2012, Reuters published a piece that touched on the hesitancy that some doctors felt about a new generation of blood thinners, one of which was Xarelto. In 2011, the FDA had approved Xarelto for prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients undergoing hip or knee replacement surgeries. A few months later, in November of 2011, the FDA approved it for a second use, for stroke prophylaxis in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. This condition affects about 3 million Americans and Xarelto, a once-daily pill, was meant to decrease the chances that patients with this illness would develop blood clots in a storage chamber of the heart.
Xarelto has been marketed as a one-size-fits-all solution to traditional warfarin but even in 2012, a year after the drug was approved, doctors were wary of the fact that Xarelto did not require the same amount of monitoring by doctors. If not taken properly, the risk of stroke, serious bleeding and blood clots increases, especially in patients with poor kidney function. Top cardiologists urged other doctors to make sure that patients were adequately tested for kidney function before prescribing Xarelto to their patients.Patients should also be instructed on potentially negative side effects and continue to see their doctors periodically while taking the drug. Unfortunately, in the scramble to prescribe patients this new blockbuster drug, some doctors may have not taking such steps and their patients may have suffered as a result.
Legal Commentary
Xarelto attorneys within our firm are studying, examining and investigating current Xarelto claims on behalf of people and their families who may have been injured by the drug. Some of the side effects include hemorrhaging, internal bleeding, stroke and or death. If you or a loved one has experienced any side effects while taking Xarelto, contact our Xarelto lawyers to discuss the facts of your potential case. We are available by phone for a free consultation at 1.866.705.7584 or by email at mn@fnlawfirm.com.