Plavix Lawsuits

Plavix (clopidogrel) was approved by The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1997. The drug is marketed by Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Plavix is an antiplatelet drug that decreases the activity of platelets, making them less likely to stick together causing less incidence of blood clot formation in the blood stream.

Plavix is prescribed to decrease the risk of heart attack, unstable angina, stroke, and cardiovascular death in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Plavix is effective in reducing blood clots. However, the body’s inability to form clots presents a number of potential problems as well. Plavix has been associated with major internal bleeding and gastrointestinal bleeding. Massive, sometimes fatal, bleeding can occur in patients who require surgery while on Plavix. In addition, a Plavix trial has found that patients taking Plavix may suffer greater than 12 times more ulcers when compared to patients taking aspirin plus esomeprazole, (a proton pump inhibitor). Some possible side effects of Plavix include gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcer formation, both of which can be potentially avoided by use of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), which decreases stomach acid.

In November 2009, an advisory was released by the FDA warning that the PPI omeprazole, (marketed as Prilosec/Prilosec OTC) taken along with Plavix significantly reduces the effectiveness of Plavix decreasing the anti-clotting benefits. The FDA has also recommended that doctors avoid prescribing esomeprazole (Nexium), cimetidine (Tagamet/Tagamet HB), fluconazole (Diflucan), ketoconazole (Nizoral), voriconazole (VFEND), etravirine (Intelence), felbamate (Felbatol), Fluoxetine (Prozac, Serafem, Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), and ticlopidine (Ticlid) along with Plavix, as these drugs may also lessen the effectiveness of Plavix.

You may potentially have a Plavix lawsuit if you, or a loved one, have suffered any of the following Plavix side effects:

• Internal bleeding
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Cerebral bleeding or hemorrhage
• Ulcers
• Heart attack
• Bleeding stroke
• Hemorrhagic stroke
• Thrombolytic Thrombocytopenic Purpora (TTP)
• Death resulting from internal bleeding

Plavix Legal Help

With over three decades of experience, the law office of Rudolph F. X. Migliore, P.C. is well positioned to help those who have been harmed by Plavix. Our firm works with nationally recognized co-counsel to reach major verdicts and settlements. Call Rudy Migliore at (631) 534-4663 or fill out a contact form for a free case evaluation.