The world is full of conditions and diseases that impact millions of people every year. Fortunately, scientists and healthcare experts create prescription drugs that aim to aid those suffering from these conditions. Their purpose is to treat or manage these diseases to ensure that an individual is able to live life well again.

However, not all of these medications work the way experts designed them. While the majority of prescription drugs do as they should, many drugs make it into the market that are either designed poorly, manufactured improperly, or marketed incorrectly. These drugs put those taking the prescription at risk of suffering adverse side effects.

Xeljanz is one of the most recent in a long line of dangerous drugs. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially approved it for rheumatoid arthritis, they eventually approved it for psoriatic arthritis and ulcerative colitis a few years later. However, new reports have emerged warning of the potentially deadly side effects of the drug.

In recent years, the FDA discovered that Xeljanz had unknown side effects that the manufacturer (Pfizer) failed to warn doctors, patients, and pharmacies about, which they suggest they did not know. Whether they did not design the drug correctly, made a mistake in manufacturing it, or kept vital information from the public, Pfizer put countless people in harm’s way.

If you took Xeljanz and suffered injuries, you may be able to hold those at-fault responsible. By partnering with a trusted dangerous drug attorney like the ones at Wormington & Bollinger, you can recover damages in a Xeljanz lawsuit.

Xeljanz Side Effects 

When the FDA initially approved Xeljanz in 2012, Pfizer provided them with data and information vital to the approval process. Within this information, they also provided side effects they had discovered and were aware of when taking the drug. These adverse reactions ranged from mild to severe, but at least Pfizer provided this information to the FDA, doctors, patients, and more.

Some of these side effects include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Headaches/migraines
  • Rash
  • Increased cholesterol levels
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Hypertension
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Upper respiratory tract infection
  • Cold-like symptoms

These are just a handful of mild side effects. Most of them are nonlethal, leading to mild discomfort. However, they can worsen if you do not seek medical attention or quit taking Xeljanz.

Some more severe reactions include:

  • Serious allergic reactions
  • Shingles
  • Anemia
  • Increased risk of bacterial, fungi, or viral infections
  • Pneumonia
  • Cellulitis
  • Cancer (such as lymphoma and skin cancer)
  • Gastrointestinal perforations (tears in the digestive tract)
  • Enlarged fatty liver

Most of these side effects Pfizer was aware of and let the FDA know about, as well. They even list many on their website, as well as providing a warning on the prescription. However, the FDA recently discovered side effects that have led to an increase in Xeljanz lawsuits.

Increased Risk of Blood Clots

In early 2019, the FDA released a safety announcement that detailed what they discovered in an interim analysis of a study they began in 2012 (when they approved Xeljanz). In this interim analysis, researchers revealed that patients that took a 10mg dose of tofacitinib (the active ingredient in Xeljanz) twice a day were at an increased risk of blood clots.

The two blood clots in question are pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Those with PE tend to experience blood clots in their lungs, while those with DVT experience blood clots in the thighs and lower legs. Regardless, both blood clots are life-threatening conditions.

It is this discovery that Pfizer did not make the FDA or anyone else aware that led to so many people filing a Xeljanz lawsuit. While Pfizer eventually released a statement of their own, it was already too late for many.

What Can You Receive Compensation For in a Xeljanz Lawsuit? 

People take prescription medication with the hopes that it will treat or help them manage their condition or illness. However, as is the case with Xeljanz, that does not always happen. These drugs often lead to serious side effects that threaten your overall health and safety. When that does occur, you are well within your rights to file a Xeljanz lawsuit.

These dangerous drug cases are the best way you can recover damages for what Xeljanz did to you. While a dangerous drug attorney cannot undo the damage you suffered, they can help you receive compensation that can help you with recovery and ease your stress. But what damages can you recover in a Xeljanz lawsuit?

If you suffered from the adverse reactions of Xeljanz, you might be able to recover damages for:

  • Medical expenses (for treatment you already received, are receiving, or will receive in the future related to Xeljanz side effects)
  • Lost wages due to injuries suffered that forced you to miss work
  • Lost business opportunities (for people who make a living through nontraditional means)
  • Compensation for pain and suffering (such as physical pain, emotional trauma, and mental anguish)
  • The loss of future earnings or future earning capabilities
  • Compensation for loss of companionship (often in the case of wrongful death cases, but also occurs when the damages impact your relationship with a spouse, significant other, or family in some way)

Punitive Damages in a Xeljanz Lawsuit

In some instances, many Xeljanz lawsuits claim that Pfizer acted so recklessly that punitive damages should also be included. What are punitive damages? Courts often award them in addition to the actual damages suffered.

A court will award punitive damages not to make up for what a victim suffered, but to punish the defendant (in this case, Pfizer) if they find that the defendant’s actions are particularly harmful.

Many tort claims pursue these damages because, in many cases, the pharmaceutical companies often knew about and failed to provide evidence of the dangers of their drug. In the case of Pfizer, there is proof that they were aware of the risks. The Committee of Medicinal Products of Europe refused to approve Xeljanz for rheumatoid arthritis in 2013. They found that while the 5mg dose was safe, the 10mg was not.

This committee advised Pfizer about their findings and told patients to avoid taking the prescription at the higher dose, but Pfizer did not relay this information to the FDA, doctors, or patients. This lack of communication has led many to seek punitive damages in their Xeljanz lawsuit.

If you or someone you love has suffered from the adverse side effects of Xeljanz, contact the dangerous drug attorneys at Wormington & Bollinger and let us fight for you.