The cases for anticoagulant incidents lead to blood thinner lawsuits. The drug is beneficial in preventing life-threatening conditions, like stroke. However, the medicine also has drawbacks that can be dangerous for the patients.
Scroll down to discover more about this medication and your legal options to handle issues caused by blood thinner consumption in this article!
The Overview of the Blood Thinner
Before we dive deeper into the blood thinner lawsuits, it is essential to understand deeply about this medicine. Simply put, an anticoagulant or blood-thinner is a type of drug that decreases your blood’s ability to clot.
Coagulation or blood clotting is crucial to seal wounds inside or outside the body. However, unnecessary blood clots can cause lethal problems for your health. For that reason, anticoagulants will prevent blood from forming blood clots.
Additionally, blood thinners have many form variants, like medications you take by mouth, injections, and intravenous (IV) drugs.
Furthermore, the doctor will prescribe this medication if the patients have the following conditions:
- atrial fibrillation;
- heart diseases;
- congenital heart defects;
- ischemic stroke;
- heart attack;
- replacement surgery for hip and knee;
- heart valve replacement surgery; and
- blood vessel diseases, like pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
4 Types of Blood Thinner Medicine
Blood thinners, or Anticoagulants do not actually thin the blood. Instead, the drug prevents or undo the process of coagulation that makes blood solidify into a clot. However, the process of blood clotting interference can vary depending on the types of blood thinners. Learn better about the four types of anticoagulant drugs below!
1. Vitamin K Antagonist
Vitamin K antagonist medicine works to disturb the ability of vitamin K since that vitamin is a crucial factor for blood clotting. This anticoagulant is efficient for certain conditions, such as mechanical heart valves, diseases affecting the mitral valve, and end-stage kidney diseases.
However, you need regular lab testing to take this medication. Moreover, the dose of this drug must be precise enough. Otherwise, it can cause severe bleeding. An example of this medication is Warfarin.
2. Direct Oral Anticoagulant
Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) are the alternative when Warfarin isn’t an option. Moreover, you don’t need to take regular lab tests to consume this blood-thinner medicine. However, the effect of this medicine is shorter than Warfarin’s. There are two types of DOACs.
a. Direct Factor Xa Inhibitors
This DOAC works to stop the factor Xa in the clotting process. Examples of this drug include Apixaban (Eliquis), Edoxaban (Savaysa), Fondaparinux (Arixtra), and Rivaroxaban (Xarelto).
b. Direct Thrombin Inhibitors
This drug interrupts the function of thrombin—an enzyme that helps the blood clotting process. Direct thrombin inhibitors involve Argatroban (Acova), Bivalirudin (Angiomax), and Dabigatran (Pradaxa).
3. Herapins
Heparins are a group of blood thinners that trigger antithrombin 3., which limits thrombin and factor Xa as the crucial component in blood clotting. Below are the two familiar types of heparins.
a. Unfractionated Heparin
Unfractionated heparin is commonly known as high molecular weight heparin or just heparin. The patients receive this heparin by Intravenous (IV) injection. However, they must take daily monitoring.
b. Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH)
Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) has shorter molecules than UFH. This anticoagulant is more predictable, so the usage of this drug doesn’t require lab monitoring. Examples of this blood thinner are Dalteparin (Fragmin) and Enoxaparin (Lovenox)
4. Antiplatelet
You might recognize this drug as Aspirin. Antiplatelet works to prevent the platelets (thrombocytes) from forming clots. However, this blood thinner is weaker than the common anticoagulants. Additionally, this medication is commonly used by persons with a heart attack or stroke.
The Possible Side Effects of Blood Thinner
The side effects of anticoagulant drugs can bring out even more critical complications. These adverse effects can vary depending on what types of blood thinner you take. Therefore, you may file blood thinner lawsuits against the manufacturers since they are responsible for making their drug safe to consume.
Nevertheless, there are similar symptoms for anticoagulants. The side effects may involve:
- excessive bleeding;
- bleeding more than usual during menstruation;
- shortness of breath;
- diarrhea;
- nausea;
- indigestion;
- rash;
- itchy skin;
- heartburn;
- coughing up blood;
- nosebleeding or bleeding gum that doesn’t stop;
- severe headache or stomach pains; and
- elevation of liver enzymes.
How Filing Blood Thinner Lawsuit Can Help You?
Suppose you or your loved one suffer painful symptoms after taking any type of blood thinners. Then, taking legal action might give you a chance for equitable compensation. However, you must prove the liable parties are guilty of your suffering. Moreover, the strict legal procedures might hold you to winning the case.
In that case, hiring a qualified lawyer is the best thing you can do. Your attorney will become your legal representation during the settlement negotiation in court. Furthermore, they will sustain relevant evidence to support your claim.
The Cases of the Blood Thinner Lawsuits
Many products of blood thinners cause severe symptoms and complications for consumers. Therefore, the manufacturers receive many claims for drug injury from the plaintiff. These are some cases of blood thinner allegations.
1. Eliquis
Eliquis (apixaban) is an anticoagulant that is supposed to be an alternative to Warfarin. The manufacturers even claim that the drug is safer and more efficient than its predecessor, Warfarin.
However, the manufacturers, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer, receive many claims related to the drug. The plaintiffs report that the manufacturers exaggerate the safety of Eliquis and do not disclose the potential effect of the drug. Consequently, the victims suffer life-threatening conditions or even die after taking the medicine.
Because of the manufacturer’s fraud and negligence, the victims sustain the following conditions:
- pain and suffering;
- ischemic stroke;
- life-threatening, irreversible bleeding;
- loss of income;
- severe physical, financial, and mental injuries;
- medical expenses;
- death; and
- funeral expenses.
In February 2017, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) decided to consolidate the unresolved Eliquis lawsuit into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the Southern District of New York. During this consolidation, there were approximately 53 pending claims across 17 locations.
In 2019, the U.S. Circuit of Appeals in New York rejected 60 lawsuits against Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer for concealing information about the side effects of Risperidone.
As of 2019, there are no active cases in the MDL. Additionally, there has yet to be an update about the case in 2023.
2. Xarelto
Another case of blood thinner lawsuits is Xarelto. Many individuals claimed they had suffered severe adverse effects after consuming Xarelto. Consequently, they took legal action against the manufacturers—Johnson & Johnson, Bayer Corporation, and Jassen Pharmaceuticals.
There were more than 25,000 federal lawsuits submitted against the companies. The plaintiffs accused the manufacturers of disclosing the potential side effects of consuming the drug. As a result, many consumers experienced severe complications, such as internal bleeding, wound leakage, and infections.
In the trials, the manufacturers won three Xarelto trials. As a result, there are no jury awards for the plaintiffs who were injured by the drug.
However, in March 2019, Johnson & Johnson and Bayer agreed to settle the remaining Xarelto lawsuits for $775M. Both companies agreed to pay half of the settlement expenses.
Nevertheless, the manufacturers did not admit the settlement as part of the legal liability. Instead, they claimed the agreement was the best resolution for everyone. Moreover, it allows the companies to avoid disturbance or significant expenses for continuing the litigation.
Proceed with the Legal Help with Blood Thinner Lawsuit!
The manufacturers are supposed to verify their products and forewarn the consumer about the adverse effects of the drugs. However, when the companies fail to warn them, the consumers become the victims of the drug’s adverse effects. Hence, the companies are liable for customers’ affliction.
Don’t stay silent if you get injured because of a drug injury! Talk to a proficient attorney to assist with your blood thinner lawsuits. They can assist you in ensuring that the drug companies face the legal consequences for your injury.
