Plavix Lawsuit

Plavix (clopidogrel) is a prescription anti-platelet medication used to prevent stroke and heart attack in patients with cardiovascular disease. Plavix works by making blood platelets less likely to form clots.

It is generally taken in tablet form, once per day by mouth. Plavix is one of the best selling drugs worldwide, with over $8 billion dollars in annual sales.

As with many medications, Plavix may cause serious side effects, including:

Common Side Effects of Plavix

Bleeding: This is the most common side effect and can range from minor bruising to more severe bleeding.
Bruising: Increased tendency to bruise due to reduced blood clotting ability.
Nosebleeds: More frequent or prolonged nosebleeds.
Gastrointestinal Issues: Including stomach pain, diarrhea, indigestion, or heartburn.
Headaches: Mild to moderate headaches.
Dizziness: Feelings of lightheadedness or vertigo.
Itching or Rash: Skin reactions such as itching or rashes.

Serious Side Effects of Plavix

Severe Bleeding: Including gastrointestinal bleeding, brain hemorrhage, or bleeding within the eyes.
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP): A rare blood condition involving blood clots forming throughout the body.
Hemorrhagic Stroke: Bleeding in the brain, especially in patients who have had a recent brain injury or surgery.
Ulcers or Holes in the Stomach or Intestines: Manifesting as severe stomach pain, bloody stools, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.
Allergic Reactions: Symptoms may include rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, or trouble breathing.
Liver Problems: Symptoms such as yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or persistent nausea/vomiting.
Low White Blood Cell Count: Leading to increased susceptibility to infections.

Drugs come with side effects. We all get that. So that is not the question. Instead, the question is whether the maker of Plavix knew that people who are unable to metabolize Plavix adequately were at greater risk for a heart attack. Since Plavix will not work until it is metabolized in the body, these individuals are at a greater risk for heart attack and stroke.

This increased risk is so great that in March of 2010, the FDA added what is known as a “Black Box Warning” to Plavix to alert both patients and physicians that the drug can be less effective in those patients who are unable to metabolize it into the active form. It is estimated that as many as 14% of the U.S. population are poor metabolizers of Plavix.

FDA Warnings

The manufacturers of Plavix — Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals – have a long history of consumer deceit and misleading marketing practices surrounding the drug. They have received numerous warning letters from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):

1998: A September warning letter from the FDA reprimanded the manufacturers for promoting Plavix for use in patients receiving stents, a use for which the drug was not approved. The letter also accused the manufacturers of improperly recommending a dose that was approximately four times higher than the approved dose, and for failure to adequately warn consumers about the potential risks associated with taking Plavix.
1998: An additional letter from the FDA in December cited false and misleading statements in product brochures, medical journal advertisements and promotional videos, all of which claimed that Plavix® was superior to aspirin. The letter also accused the manufacturers of failure to present information about the side effects, warnings, and precautions associated with taking Plavix.
2001: A May warning letter from the FDA mandated that the manufacturers cease their promotion of unsubstantiated claims about Plavix, including presenting selective information in advertisements while ignoring unfavorable data
2001: A subsequent warning letter in September notified the manufacturers that they were in violation of Federal regulations by failing to adequately report the number of serious adverse reactions to Plavix in a timely manner.

Plavix Lawsuits
Studies continue to demonstrate that Plavix shows no measurable benefit over its much cheaper and safer alternative – aspirin. Most recently in October of 2011, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) halted a large multi-national randomized study of stroke prevention following a scheduled data review when the analysis revealed that 6.5% of patients who were randomized to take both Plavix and aspirin experienced a bleeding event, versus 3.3% of the patients randomized to the aspirin-alone arm. The Plavix/aspirin combination arm also experienced more deaths.

Plavix lawsuits allege is the responsibility of the manufacturers (Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals) to adequately warn consumers of the potential side effects and to market the drug for only those purposes for which clinical trial data support its effectiveness. Based on their history of misleading advertising, marketing and promotion, the manufacturers of Plavix have failed consumers by neglecting their duty to act in the best interest of patient safety.

Amid growing concern surrounding the serious risks associated with taking Plavix, and in response to the blatant disregard for patient safety by the manufacturers, numerous individual lawsuits for Plavix are currently being reviewed while several class action lawsuits have already been filed in the United States. These lawsuits allege that Plavix is defective in both design and formulation, unsafe for its promoted uses, and that the potentially severe side effects far outweigh any potential benefits.

Plavix is still considered an effective medication for reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. However, it is crucial for patients to be aware of the potential side effects and to discuss them thoroughly with their healthcare provider. If you have concerns about Plavix or have experienced any side effects, consult with your doctor promptly.

2023 Plavix Lawsuit Update

Looking back, these lawsuit did not really get off the ground. But they did agreed to change the label for Plavix to warn about the risks of serious bleeding and to provide genetic testing for patients with the CYP2C19 *2/*2 variant.

Update New 2023 Study on Plavix and Aspirin and Gastrointestinal Injuries

Recent research from China indicates that long-term use of the drug Plavix, especially when combined with aspirin, may lead to significant gastrointestinal issues in patients with heart stents. This study was detailed in the medical journal JAMA Network Open, highlighting concerns about the potential risks of continuous Plavix use.

The study’s findings bring attention to the gastrointestinal risks associated with long-term Plavix use, especially when used in conjunction with aspirin. This research contributes to the ongoing evaluation of the safety and efficacy of Plavix, particularly for patients undergoing heart stent procedures. It underscores the importance of carefully weighing the benefits of clot prevention against the potential for gastrointestinal complications in these patients.