Xarelto and Eliquis–the so called NOAC drugs–are presenting life threatening problems for emergency rooms, which reflect on the potential for suits both against the drug manufacturers and health care providers. Our firm is investigating the potential for both types of lawsuits.
“NOAC” means novel oral anticoagulants (also known as anti-Xa drugs)–the heavily promoted drugs that doctors are prescribing in place of the more traditional and safe Coumadin. Recent studies have shown that the industry has gotten beyond itself, since there is:
- no way to measure the blood level of a NOAC in a patient who comes into the ER with a stroke or other problem,
- no way to measure accurately the bleeding/clotting level of the patient’s blood, and
- no drug which can be given to quickly reverse the bleeding potential of Xarelto or Eliquis in the body.
All of these tests and treatments are readily available and used in emergency rooms when a Coumadin patient is brought in. But, as a public FDA workshop this week revealed, none are available for the NOACs. Due to this lack, emergency room physicians at the workshop were sharply critical both of the industry and of the FDA; the latter because the FDA had not approved any tests to measure bleeding/clotting levels in NOAC users.
The emergency room doctors at the FDA workshop described a variety of situations where they needed to know quickly what amount of the NOAC was in the blood and what effect it was having on blood clotting ability. The situations included patients with bleeding or ischemic strokes; trauma; or clots in the legs.
The doctors described situations where a specialized test could not be done in their hospitals over weekends, or where a test existed but the hospital would not run it since it was not FDA-approved.
One of the speakers pointed out that the routine tests one would use in a Comadin user–PT and APTT–are not accurate measures in NOAC users. An anti-Xa test was suggested as useful but the speaker observed that few labs were equipped to do this test, especially on weekends.
Our firm was the first to file suit against the manufacturers of Eliquis. We have also filed and continue to file suits against the manufactures of Xarelto in the MDL(MDL No. 2592). Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP, is committed to helping those who have suffered from using these dangerous drugs. With over 30 years of experience in the field, we can help you receive compensation for your injuries. Contact us today online or by phone (212) 684-1880 for a free case evaluation.
