Dismissing manufacturer’s safety claims, a new Xarelto injury study has warned of greater threat of gastrointestinal bleeding associated with the blood thinner compared to warfarin. Published on 24 April 2015 in the British Medical Journal, the study carried on by scholars from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine discovered that Xarelto bleeding injury risk is two-time higher than old blood thinner warfarin while Pradaxa, another infamous blood thinner that led to more than 4,000 lawsuits and $650 million carries 50% more risk .
In 2012, Reuters reported concerns expressed by many top cardiologists over potential Xarelto injury risks. This was attested by the MedWatch data revealing 151 deaths and over 2,000 hospitalizations associated with Xarelto bleeding side effects in 2012. In the first 150 days of 2013, 200 died and about 700 were treated for internal hemorrhage.
The Johns Hopkins Study Report
The study looked in to the case history of over 46,000 patients treated with Xarelto, Pradaxa, or warfarin. All patients used these drugs from October 2010 to March 2012. It was found that “rates of gastrointestinal bleeding seem to be similar in this commercially insured sample of adults though it cannot be ruled out that as much as a 50% increase in the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding with dabigatran (Pradaxa) compared with warfarin and a more than twofold higher risk of bleeding with rivaroxaban (Xarelto) compared with warfarin.
Though the researchers admit that statistical demonstration is not significant for the purpose of comparison of bleeding risk associated with these drugs, they concede that age is a factor and Xarelto and Pradaxa carry higher injury risk than warfarin.
Warfarin has been prescribed for decades prior to Xarelto and Pradaxa were introduced. Xarelto manufacturer Bayer advertised the drug as a new-generation blood thinner considerably reducing the frequency of blood monitoring. However, thousands of reports and more than 500 Xarelto lawsuits indicate a different story. There have been deaths and hospitalizations due to severe and uncontrolled bleeding associated with the blood thinner.
The absence of any reversal agent to counter Xarelto side effects makes bleeding uncontrollable. This makes the condition of the patients fatal in the absence of inadequate monitoring.
Xarelto Bleeding Research Studies
A Japanese study published in The Journal of Cardiology observed that “the drug caused a prolonged ‘thinning’ effect, making patients more likely to experience serious bleeding events within two weeks” during a trial compared to warfarin. Researchers also emphasized on the need for “monitoring of patients treated with Xarelto for potential bleeding effects and hemorrhage.” The manufacturer claims the superiority of Xarelto over warfarin on the ground that it does not necessitate monitoring for bleeding effects. Another February 2015 also criticized the claim and warned of fatal consequences unless patients are monitored for hemorrhage risk. Xarelto injury may also impact the kidney. According to Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the blood thinner may lead to brain, stomach, and intestine hemorrhages.
The American Heart Association acknowledged a report in 2013 that warned of three-fold rise in Xarelto bleeding injury. The risk goes up by four times for people suffering from Acute Coronary Syndrome. A recent study by researchers from California has cautioned against administering blood thinners to patients with reduced heart rhythm as this increases the bleeding risk.
If you have a potential Xarelto injury claim related to the blood thinner side effects, please contact us or call on 1-800-632-1404 for a free consultation with our Xarelto attorneys today.
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