What is Eliquis?
Eliquis (apixaban) is the newest blood-thinner on the market, manufactured by Pfizer and Bristol-Myers. It is prescribed to patients with atrial fibrillation to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolisms. It is also prescribed to treat blood clots in the veins of your legs (deep vein thrombosis) or lungs (pulmonary embolism), including patients who have had hip and knee replacements. Eliquis was approved for use in the United States in December of 2012.
Why Do Doctors Prescribe Eliquis?
Eliquis is prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes. Like other newer blood thinners such as Pradaxa, it is marketed as superior to warfarin (Coumadin) because patients can all take the same dose, and don’t have to be individually monitored. However, like all blood thinners, the inability to form blood clots carries the risk of causing severe bleeding. Bleeding is the most common serious side effect of Eliquis.
However, unlike warfarin, Eliquis does not have a reversal agent. If a patient experiences excessive bleeding while taking warfarin, doctors administer vitamin K, the antidote to warfarin. But there is no antidote for Eliquis. If severe bleeding occurs while taking Eliquis, the patient may be at risk for serious, irreversible internal bleeding and even death.
Eliquis and Severe Bleeding
Patients taking Eliquis have experienced the following serious conditions:
- Internal bleeding
- Intestinal bleeding
- Kidney bleeding
- Cerebral hemorrhage (bleeding on the brain)
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Hypovolemic shock (losing over 20% of your blood)
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Pulmonary embolism
- Stroke
What can you do?
If you or a loved one has experienced severe bleeding while taking Eliquis, you may have a claim for damages. Contact Attorney Marilyn McGoldrick, who leads Thornton Law Firm’s drug and medical device practice, for a free, no-obligation case evaluation at 1-888-341-1405. Or tell us your story here for a prompt, thorough evaluation of your legal rights.
