topic Re: Xarelto getting sued, users dying from internal bleeding . . . in Wellness

Xarelto getting sued, users dying from internal bleeding . . .

LilacTree — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 18:15:50 GMT

. . . and yet they're still running the Arnold Palmer ad on TV.

Re: Xarelto getting sued, users dying from internal bleeding . . .

PhatCat — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 18:19:36 GMT

Hey Ford!

Yeah, they released their product too soon, wanted to try to beat Boehringer Ingelheim to the punch with their release of Pradaxa. Now the big push is who will be able to come up with a coagulant first. Boehringer paid $96 million in fines. It'll be interesting to see how much is paid out for Xarelto.

Re: Xarelto getting sued, users dying from internal bleeding . . .

LilacTree — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 18:25:29 GMT

@PhatCat wrote:
Hey Ford!
Yeah, they released their product too soon, wanted to try to beat Boehringer Ingelheim to the punch with their release of Pradaxa. Now the big push is who will be able to come up with a coagulant first. Boehringer paid $96 million in fines. It'll be interesting to see how much is paid out for Xarelto.

Hi PhatCat!

This burns me so bad, it makes me want to scream at the TV. I went to the ER a couple of weeks ago thinking I had a blood clot in my leg. Turns out I did not, thankfully, it's the RA attacking a new joint . . . oh joy!

However, had it been and they had offered me a "blood thinner," I'll bet you anything it would have been Xarelto. Oh, believe me, I wouldn't have taken it. But they would have heard the nasty side of this Jersey Girl's tongue!!

Re: Xarelto getting sued, users dying from internal bleeding . . .

151949 — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 19:03:31 GMT

My doctor gave me Xarelto to take for 10 days after my makoplasty and on the second day I had excruiating pain and went to the ER. The tibia was bleeding out into my lower leg. They had to pump me full of platelets to stop it. My leg was purple from the tips of my toes all the way to my groin the next morning. They told me to wait 3 days and then to start taking them again - I went home and threw them in the trash. I also never took them when I had the other knee done - I learned that lesson. BAD DRUG.

Re: Xarelto getting sued, users dying from internal bleeding . . .

cowboy sam — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 19:04:30 GMT

Shaking my head..the makers won't stop the ad unless the public screams and writes to the tv channel to take it off the air.

Re: Xarelto getting sued, users dying from internal bleeding . . .

gardenman — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 19:14:45 GMT

Coumadin is tried and true, and also easily reversible with vitamin k, so it should be everyone's first choice. Pradaxa and Xarelto are efficient blood thinners, but not easily reversible. Coumadin is now generic though, so the drug manufacturers want something more profitable. As a general rule you're better off sticking with the proven older drug over the brand new stuff. The INR testing with coumadin isn't even bad if you get the home testing equipment. It takes less than five minutes once a week.

Re: Xarelto getting sued, users dying from internal bleeding . . .

Vivian — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 19:47:04 GMT

Two years ago, my then 91 year old mother was told she needed a blood thinner. Her doctor chose Cumadin because it was tried and true. At 93, Mom is doing OK. She gets checked regularly but has had no untoward side effects. These prescription drug commercials are despicable. And Kim K's dangerous recommendation of a morning sickness medication was thankfully pulled because of the FDA. Why are Americans the only country subjected to these ads? It's unconscionable in my opinion.

Re: Xarelto getting sued, users dying from internal bleeding . . .

Kachina624 — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 20:27:16 GMT

My dear friend of almost fifty years died last month after taking Xarelto. She was bleeding internally when she went to the ER. She was in the hospital over a month, mostly in ICU, with one thing after another wrong with her.

I've suggested to her children that they see an attorney. I don't know what her final cause of death was determined to be, but they did an autopsy.

Re: Xarelto getting sued, users dying from internal bleeding . . .

Gooday — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 21:19:47 GMT

Both my 87 year old dad as well as myself are on Xeralto. We both have atrial fibrillation. My dad did not like going for blood tests and was willing to take it. I have been on it for one year, no problem. Our cardiologist has had ZERO patients with bleeding issues. So far, so good.

Re: Xarelto getting sued, users dying from internal bleeding . . .

KingstonsMom — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 21:48:31 GMT

Sadly, my 59 y.o. SIL died about a month ago of internal bleeding while taking this drug.

The lawsuit is being prepared.

Re: Xarelto getting sued, users dying from internal bleeding . . .

KingstonsMom — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 21:51:12 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
My dear friend of almost fifty years died last month after taking Xarelto. She was bleeding internally when she went to the ER. She was in the hospital over a month, mostly in ICU, with one thing after another wrong with her.

I've suggested to her children that they see an attorney. I don't know what her final cause of death was determined to be, but they did an autopsy.

@Kachina624

My deepest sympathies on your loss.

Re: Xarelto getting sued, users dying from internal bleeding . . .

KingstonsMom — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 21:55:45 GMT

@gardenman wrote:
Coumadin is tried and true, and also easily reversible with vitamin k, so it should be everyone's first choice. Pradaxa and Xarelto are efficient blood thinners, but not easily reversible. Coumadin is now generic though, so the drug manufacturers want something more profitable. As a general rule you're better off sticking with the proven older drug over the brand new stuff. The INR testing with coumadin isn't even bad if you get the home testing equipment. It takes less than five minutes once a week.

@gardenman

I SO agree! I've been on 5-6 'new' drugs through the years, that ended up being taken off the market for doing more harm than good!

My Docs know now that I won't take anything new on the market... give me the tried & true drugs!

Re: Xarelto getting sued, users dying from internal bleeding . . .

Q4u — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 22:04:02 GMT

I was just about to ask what is wrong with Coumadin? My Dad took it in the 70's after a heart attack. It was very effective with no problems.

But no, these drug companies push the newer drugs... the patient has to be very alert and question things.

Re: Xarelto getting sued, users dying from internal bleeding . . .

June222 — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 22:21:42 GMT

@Q4u wrote:
I was just about to ask what is wrong with Coumadin? My Dad took it in the 70's after a heart attack. It was very effective with no problems.

But no, these drug companies push the newer drugs... the patient has to be very alert and question things.

@Q4u nothing is wrong with Coumadin. It just has it's set backs with having to watch your diet closely, and having to check your blood levels every week. At least it has an anecdote if you get too much to stop the bleeding.

Re: Xarelto getting sued, users dying from internal bleeding . . .

hckynutjohn — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 01:47:56 GMT

I was on Coumadin(warfarin)for over 7 years. I unfortunately was one that had an INR/ProTime that fluctuated like the weather here in Nebraska.

In those 7 years there was never a time that I did not average going to the hospital to have a "full blood draw(no finger stick)" less than 3 times every single weeks.

There were many months where I went 7 days a week. My blood would be drawn/they would notify my Pulmonologist of my INR reading, and he or his office would call me to tell me what dosage of Coumadin to take that night.

Was on it for 2 different reason. Mainly because of my 2 different episodes of PE, and secondarily for my 2 heart attacks.

This was a BIG downer for me because it ended my ice skating(Ref)career because of the possibilities of getting getting hit again with a puck and having internal bleeding. Cuts or external bleeding was not the problem, as you can see when you are bleeding. Not so with internal bleeding.

Had my own issues with Coumadin and it almost killed me. Had my Phlebotomists not known my schedule after visiting them on certain days, I would probably be dead.

At the time I was going through Cardiac Rehab Classes 3 times a week. It was in a building right next to the hospital. I went in at about 8am to have my blood drawn. The Phlebotomists knew I would be going to Cardiac Rehab right after I left the hospital.

During rehab when I was exercising, 1 of the Cardiac Nurses told me I had to go have my blood drawn again that the Lab had called and requested it. I said "I'll go when I get done with my exercising". The Nurse said "No, you will go right now, EKG monitor on you and all".

Now a normal INR reading for many is a range of 2.0-2.5mgdl. Anything below that you are at a higher risk of clotting. Anything much higher than that you are more likely to have internal bleeding.

My reading when they called was 12.9mgdl, which most of my doctors(even my doctor friends)say many die(bleed out when it reaches 9.0mgdl). When they took my 2nd sample it came back at 13.0mgdl of blood.

By this time lumps were appearing on both my legs. A couple the size of tennis balls and others golf ball size. They immediately ran me into the Procedure Center of the hospital(it is closer than the ER)and shot Vitamin K into my stomach.

They then got 4 units of frozen blood plasma and, using the biggest syringe posible, began transfusing the Plasma into my body. What normally would take 90 minutes they did in less than half that time.

I remained in the hospital for 4 days, off of all Coumadin, waiting for my INR to get down to a safe range, and then I went home. My Pulmonologist wanted me to stay on a very low dose of Coumadin and also to give my self shots(needles into my stomach) of Lovanox twice a day.

What happened to cause that event? I have no idea as I always checked my Coumadin at least 3 times before I took it every single night. The only thing I can think of is instead of taking a 1mg pill of Warfarin I took a 10mg pill. There were times I was taking up to 12mg per day of Coumadin when my INR readings were about 1.5mgdl of blood.

I chose to get off of Coumadin and run the risk of PE. Why? Because I my Colon bleeding was to the point where I was always Anemic(hemoglobin under 8mgdl of blood), and also needed blood transfusion sometimes twice a month, always at least every 3 weeks.

After having at least 130 blood transfusions and 25-30 Iron Infusions, I decided to risk the PE in lieu of living my life in Anemia, which pretty much kept me from doing much of anything physical.

Long story as usual, but there is no way I would take anything but Coumadin/Warfarin, or use Lovanox as a blood thinner, should I have another brush with PE and manage to once again survive this deadly clotting.

Thats my take on these issues of blood thinners.

Re: Xarelto getting sued, users dying from internal bleeding . . .

gardenman — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 14:25:33 GMT

I think the big issue with Coumadin is that the changing doses are pretty easily messed up. My dad never quite figured out the difference between milligrams and pills. He'd be taking a four milligram pill and his INR would be too low so the doctor would want him to take four and a half milligrams. He'd then take a four milligram pill and then half a four milligram pill (for a total of six milligrams) instead of the four and a half milligrams. At his next test his result would be way too high. He was on a roller coaster of readings and dosages until I finally figured out what he was doing and took over his meds. Then he leveled off and was pretty consistently between two and three on his INR's. Docs prescribing Coumadin have to be absolutely sure their patients know the right dosage and how to achieve it. I'm not sure this isn't something where premeasured daily doses handed out by the doc at each test isn't the smartest way to dispense Coumadin.

Re: Xarelto getting sued, users dying from internal bleeding . . .

LilacTree — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 19:01:50 GMT

@gardenman wrote:
Coumadin is tried and true, and also easily reversible with vitamin k, so it should be everyone's first choice. Pradaxa and Xarelto are efficient blood thinners, but not easily reversible. Coumadin is now generic though, so the drug manufacturers want something more profitable. As a general rule you're better off sticking with the proven older drug over the brand new stuff. The INR testing with coumadin isn't even bad if you get the home testing equipment. It takes less than five minutes once a week.

Oh, I so agree with that!! Tried and true. I don't take meds much, but I would never take a brand new one!!

Re: Xarelto getting sued, users dying from internal bleeding . . .

KonaKat — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 21:02:03 GMT

I've been on Xarelto for over two years because I have atrial fibrillation. Like any medicine, they warn you about side effects so you can take immediate action should symptoms develop of a possible problem I have had zero problems taking Xarelto. I don't' have to eliminate foods from my diet or having weekly blood tests as required with some of the other blood thinners. I have had two surgeries this year and had to stop the Xarelto for a period of time before the surgery with no issues.

Re: Xarelto getting sued, users dying from internal bleeding . . .

Gooday — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 23:52:49 GMT

@KonaKat wrote:
I've been on Xarelto for over two years because I have atrial fibrillation. Like any medicine, they warn you about side effects so you can take immediate action should symptoms develop of a possible problem I have had zero problems taking Xarelto. I don't' have to eliminate foods from my diet or having weekly blood tests as required with some of the other blood thinners. I have had two surgeries this year and had to stop the Xarelto for a period of time before the surgery with no issues.

As I said earlier, I have had no issues and it's been one year.

My dad has been on it for 2 years. In June, he had a carotid endarterectomy and he was instructed to stop it 4 days prior to surgery. He has had no issues either and he will be 87 years old next month.

Prior to that he was on Coumadin and his levels were in therapeutic range as he was on monthly blood tests. However, that occasionally changed and he just got tired of the schedule changes for blood work. It's very frustrating for older people and change. Besides, he ended up losing the site in his left eye and trying to find rides for him was too much for him to deal with (really, for me to deal with when we left for the winter).

SO....fingers crossed and God bless....we are fine so far on Xarelto. Keep the rat poison, blood tests and dietary restrictions, I trust my cardiologist when he said that NONE of his patients have had any problem thus far.

Re: Xarelto getting sued, users dying from internal bleeding . . .

hckynutjohn — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 02:00:30 GMT

@LilacTree wrote:
@gardenman wrote:
Coumadin is tried and true, and also easily reversible with vitamin k, so it should be everyone's first choice. Pradaxa and Xarelto are efficient blood thinners, but not easily reversible. Coumadin is now generic though, so the drug manufacturers want something more profitable. As a general rule you're better off sticking with the proven older drug over the brand new stuff. The INR testing with coumadin isn't even bad if you get the home testing equipment. It takes less than five minutes once a week.
Oh, I so agree with that!! Tried and true. I don't take meds much, but I would never take a brand new one!!

Hi Lilac Tree,

As far as the INR "home testing equipment"? I tried the "finger stick" method several times and then right after went to the lab to have full blood draw.

Those "finger stick" numbers were as much as 2 full points different than the full lab blood draw. If my INR was say a 2mgdl via finger stick, it was really a 4.0mgdl, which is not in a very safe zone. This is especially true if ones INR runs on the high side.

There is the opposite of getting a 3.0mgdl finger stick reading and the full draw from the lab coming back as a 1.0mgdl, which leads to a very much higher risk of PE, and that can be deadly very quickly.

Ain't no way in heck I would ever reply on a "home kit" for my readings, or a finger stick. Fortunately for most on Coumadin/Warfarin, they do not have the issues with the readings going up and down 1.5mgdl every day like I did.