Xeljanz Lawsuits Attorney in Louisville, Kentucky

Helping Families Across Kentucky Fight for Just Compensation

Lawsuits are currently being filed on behalf of patients injured from taking Xeljanz or Xeljanz XR. In 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Xeljanz to treat a few chronic illnesses. The medication was prescribed to patients with psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. After many years on the market, in February 2019, the FDA alerted consumers to the increased risk of blood clots and cardiovascular problems caused from prolong usage of Xeljanz. Since the initial alert, the FDA has added a black box warning to the drug to alert users to the health risks associated with prolonged use. Doctors found that some patients were developing blood clots in their legs, pelvis, lungs, and thighs. A blood clot is also referred to as a DVT, or deep vein thrombosis, which can be fatal. When a blood clot travels to the lungs, it’s called a pulmonary embolism.

FDA Announces Xeljanz Increases Risk of Blood Clots

Once the FDA made the public aware of the dangers associated with Xeljanz usage, people who experienced pulmonary embolisms and DVTs began seeking lawyers to represent them in lawsuits to ask for compensation for these severe injuries. The FDA Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS) is a public dashboard where injured persons can report issues with medications, devices, and any supplement approved by the department. According to FAERS, between the release of Xeljanz and the FDA increased risk announcement, 52 deep vein thrombosis were reported, 79 pulmonary embolisms, and 15 patient deaths. While these numbers are terrible, there could be many more unreported cases. FAERS is a self-reporting system, so injured parties should report any issues they’ve had with the information.

Signs of a Blood Clot

Xeljanz has been linked to pulmonary embolisms and deep vein thrombosis, blood clots in the lung and limbs, respectively.

• Pulmonary embolisms are clots that affect the lungs, leading to heart arrhythmia, chest pains, and labored breathing. Sometimes sufferers find themselves lightheaded and in need of medical care.
• Deep Vein Thrombosis affects parts of the body other than organs. A DVT can cause swelling, pain to the touch, and redness radiating from the affected body part. Blood clots can travel from one location to another.

Blood clots can be fatal, so patients should be aware of the signs and symptoms so they can seek medical attention immediately. Doctors have medicines and procedures to treat blood clots, so seeking help is essential.

Xeljanz Linked to Cardiovascular Problems

In February 2021, Xeljanz was linked to cardiovascular issues. The FDA released an alert to make the public aware that long-term use of the medication could lead to heart complications. During trials, the drug manufacturers reported the most common cardiovascular issue was heart infarctions.

Xeljanz has been linked to: