Rivaroxaban is the generic name for the prescription drug more commonly known as Xarelto. This medication is an anticoagulant, which means that it works to prevent the clotting of blood by engaging the coagulation cascade, which is generally understood as the process that the body uses to prevent blood loss.
Xarelto, along with Pradaxa, represents the newest and most well-known type of anticoagulant on the market. This class of drug was developed as an alternative to warfarin, which has long dominated the market in reducing risks associated with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (an abnormal heart rhythm not caused by a heart valve problem). Xarelto differs from Pradaxa in that the former directly acts upon the protein Factor Xa, which prevents thrombin (an enzyme that facilitates the clotting of blood) from forming by interrupting the blood-clotting process, while the latter directly keeps thrombin from forming. Xarelto and Pradaxa are marketed as more convenient and safer alternatives to warfarin as they do not require frequent visits to the doctor or drastic lifestyle changes.
Xarelto was first approved by the FDA in 2011 and is used to reduce the risk of blood clots as well as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in patients who have recently had a hip or knee replacement surgery. It was also approved for stroke prophylaxis in the event of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.
Since its arrival to market, Xarelto has been linked to hundreds of cases of adverse events as well as deaths related to internal and gastrointestinal bleeding. Though the FDA has rejected several attempts by Bayer and Johnson & Johnson, the drug’s manufacturer and marketer, respectively, to expand the application of the medicine, Xarelto remains one of the top-prescribed anticoagulant medications.
Side effects of taking Xarelto include:
• Unusual bleeding or bleeding that will not stop
• Fainting
• Numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness
At McDivitt Law Firm, we feel that you deserve information that may be relevant to your rights as a consumer. We want to alert you to a potential claim regarding this medication that you or someone you know may have been prescribed.
We may be able to help you if:
- You have experienced uncontrollable bleeding or other serious side effects.
If you have been affected by the health risks listed above or someone you know has died in association with treatment by Xarelto, please contact us for a confidential case evaluation.