Serious health issues linked to powerful drugs call for action by consumers who are affected.
Houston, TX (PRWEB) August 11, 2014
Drug manufacturer Bayer AG faces lawsuits in the United States for its blood-thinning drug Xarelto along with Johnson & Johnson, which markets Xarelto in the United States, according to news reports. Houston lawyer J. Mark Brewer of Brewer & Pritchard, P.C., understands that the FDA changed the boxed warning on the drug to alert consumers of the bleeding risk.
Brewer based his comments on several articles about legal action taken against Xarelto in the United States, including an article published by Reuters on June 14.
“Serious health issues linked to powerful drugs call for action by consumers who are affected,” Brewer said today. “Even though drugs like Xarelto undergo rigorous testing by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States, the testing is limited to a finite number of patients. Thus, when the drug finally reaches the market and the general population, many consumers experience serious side effects after being exposed to certain medications. In extreme cases, some people also have died due to adverse health problems caused by drugs designed to make them better. That’s why it’s important for injury victims and their families to be aware of the risks and to understand their rights if they develop serious health problems after using Xarelto or another drug.”
An unidentified person in the United States filed the lawsuit against Germany’s Bayer AG for its anti-blood clotting drug Xarelto, according to Reuters, which cited Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper in Germany.
In the first quarter of 2013, the number of reported adverse events associated with Xarelto (680) surpassed Pradaxa (528), another new oral anticoagulant, which had previously ranked as the number one reported drug for adverse events in 2012, according to a May 7 analysis of the statistics by the Institute of Safe Medication Practices (ISMP).
Due to the increase in possible adverse side effects, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) changed its boxed warning on Xarelto in March 2014. Potential adverse side effects of Xarelto include bleeding, according to the FDA. The FDA also noted that no antidote exists to reverse potential side effects associated with Xarelto.
Such possible health risks associated by Xarelto must be taken seriously by patients, according to Texas product liability lawyer J. Mark Brewer of Brewer & Pritchard, P.C.
“We understand that many people are reluctant to contact an attorney when they’re dealing with a health crisis like potentially dangerous side effects from Xarelto,” Brewer said. “But there’s a legitimate reason why many families choose to file a lawsuit to resolve such complicated issues. The problem is many drug manufacturers and their insurance companies simply fail to offer injury victims enough money to cover the true cost of their health-related problems. It’s not just medical expenses people need to consider. It’s the loss of income from not being able to work, the decrease in someone’s quality of life and even sometimes how long they will live. All of these factors need to be taken into consideration. That’s why we strongly urge families to explore their legal options if they’re suffering from serious side effects caused by any medication.”
For more information about legal options for consumers, call 800-445-8710 or complete the online contact form.
The Reuters article cited is “Bayer faces law suits in United States over Xarelto: paper,” June 14, 2014)
The ISMP report cited is “Quarter Watch: Monitoring FDA MedWatch Reports: Perspective on Drug Hyper Sensitivity: Executive Summary.”
About Brewer & Pritchard, P.C.
Serving clients throughout Texas and across the country, the attorneys at Brewer & Pritchard, P.C. have a well-earned reputation for being knowledgeable, experienced lawyers focused on results. The Houston law firm handles a wide variety of cases, including Medicaid fraud, whistleblower claims, business law, corporate law, mergers, acquisitions and other legal issues. Our law firm discreetly investigates every case and respects our clients’ privacy. Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Brewer & Pritchard, P.C.
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Houston, Texas 77056
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