Plavix Lawsuits Moving Forward Towards Trial

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After months of delay awaiting a Supreme Court decision about whether FDA approval preempts cases against drug makers for failing to warn about dangerous side effects, a U.S. District Judge in New Jersey has reinstated dozens of Plavix lawsuits pending against Bristol-Myers and Sanofi Aventis, allowing the claims to move closer to trial.

Plavix (clopidogrel) is a blood thinner that prevents blood platelets sticking together to form clots. It is prescribed for stroke reduction, heart attack prevention and to prevent clotting when drug coated stents are used in patients with arteriosclerosis. It is a blockbuster medication, generating annual sales of over $6 billion for Bristol Myers Squibb Co. and Sanofi-Aventis.

Hundreds of patients who previously used the drug have filed or are planning to file a complaint alleging that the manufacturers failed to warn about an increased risk of serious and potentially life-threatening Plavix side effects.

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Plavix Lawsuits

Lawsuits over Plavix filed for bleeding, ulcers other health problems.

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Learn More About

Plavix Lawsuits

Lawsuits over Plavix filed for bleeding, ulcers other health problems.

Learn More
SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR COMPENSATION

The manufacturers promoted Plavix as a safer alternative to aspirin, which reduces the risk of gastrointestinal problems. However, the lawsuits allege that Plavix actually provides no benefits over taking aspirin alone and could actually increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, gastrointestinal bleeding, severe ulcers and a rare blood disorder known as TTP, or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpora.

At least 27 Plavix lawsuits pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey before Judge Freda Wolfson, have been on hold for over a year pending the outcome of a Supreme Court decision that was handed down in March 2009.

The lawsuits involve allegations that the drug makers failed to provide adequate warnings and information to doctors about the potential Plavix problems. The drug makers had taken the position that those claims were preempted by federal law, since the FDA approved the warning label that was contained on the medications.

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in the case of Wyeth v. Levine on March 4, 2009, which directly addressed this argument. In that case, the majority opinion held that FDA approval does not preempt drug lawsuits filed under state law, as the manufacturer bears the ultimate responsibility for the content of its label at all times.

On April 2, 2009, Judge Wolfson reinstated that Plavix lawsuits pending before her, allowing the cases to proceed with further pretrial litigation.

According to a report by Bloomberg News, there are thousands of other cases which are now likely to be filed by Plavix lawyers who have been holding off on bringing lawsuits pending the outcome of the Supreme Court decision in Wyeth.

Tags: Bristol Myer Squibb, Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Heart Attack, Plavix, Sanofi-Aventis, Supreme Court

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164 Comments

Lynn
My father was prescribed Plavix after a stent was placed. I called 911 in Sept 2009 and he was rushed to the hospital where he needed immediate blood transfusion due to internal bleeding in his esophagus. His primary care physician told us it was secondary to Plavix.
ron
i have been on plavis for 4 years and all at once got dizzy and had to go to the hospital. I had an upper gi bleed and had 4 pints of blood and they said i was eaten up with ulcers of the stomach and throat. This is a deadly drug and i am not in the clear as of yet.
Terri
My father, age 57 had three drug eluting stents in 2006, was put on Plavix and aspirin, had problems with circulation in his left leg. Had two bypasses in the left leg. Friday he had emergency surgery to have a blood clot removed from one of the graphs in the leg. Vascular surgeon took him off Plavix and started him on Warfarin right after the surgery. He was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday, Friday morning he suffered a massive heart attack and went into cardiac arrest. EMT used defibrillator, got a pulse and rushed him to hospital who did chest xray and discovered clot, rushed him into Cath lab, removed the clot along with his stent. The late stent thrombosis happened 7 days after stopping the Plavix. He is still in the ICU as I am doing research and finding all this info. Not once has the doctors nor the manufacture info on Plavix mention the increased possibility of this happening. This information needs to get out the public AND the doctors taking the patients off Plavix. If we would have known the possibilities of this, 911 would have been called a lot sooner and avoid the massive damage done to his heart during the MI.
PlavixBAD4U
PLAVIX HAS DANGEROUS SIDE EFFECTS THAT ARE DEADLY. My beautiful mother died of gastrointestinal bleeding caused by Plavix. Her interventional cardiologist insisted that she “needed it for life” to prevent her stents from clogging. I now find out that it does not provide any more benefits then aspirin alone. She never had any bleeding before she took the killer drug plavix. Shame on the makers of Plavix for putting greed before lives.
Jukia
Began taking Plavix in June after heart cath. GI bleeding occurred almost immediately. My Hemotoligist kept close check of my blood and I received 6 pints of blood between June and September when I discontinued Plavix. Dr. was upset and wanted me to remail on Plavix.
Joanne
My Mom died in 2003 within 2 weeks of taking Plavix after a stent was inserted. She developed TTP. Doctors dismissed visits & phone calls & said the leg bruises were nothing to be concerned about. No lawyer wuold take her case since she was old, they said. She was an active healthy women who went jom many trips with various groups.I wonder if anything can be done now. Their should be more infromation given to patients on side effects.
Marie
At age 44, I was put on plavix for coronary stents. I asked my cardiologist over the years if I could come off it as I was badly bruising. He did not recommend it. I stayed on it for 10 yrs. and ended up with a massive GI bleed and went into hemorrhagic shock. I needed 9 units of blood. If I was not in the hospital, I would not have survived it. I lost part of my colon, had an ileostomy and a reverse ileostomy and multiple complications. I also lost my job through it all as I was out over the FMLA allowed time limit.
Connie
I am in a state of shock reading everything about this drug. My mother just died on Dec. 15 after being on Plavix in the hospital along with Warfarin. She had a major stomach bleed and couldn’t overcome it. It eventually lead to a massive heart attack that killed her. She wasn’t ready to go and I just cannot accept her death. I am so upset I don’t know what to do. She had longevity in her family and she was only 78. She sat in the chair in her hospital room talking about what she wanted for Christmas dinner and that night she suffered a major bleed. 36 hours later she was dead. She was only on this stuff for 11 days. It IS RAT POISON. This company should pay for this dangerous drug and it’s ill affects on humans.
Ammed
My grandmother died from plavix and i am looking for court cases developing in this content,, they gave her a couple of dosis os plavix and she died..if you have any info..please contact me ..Thank You
Ryan
I am shocked. My mother passed away 3 yrs ago from complications of TTP, and I knew she was on Plavix. I am literally in shock researching and hearing all these peoples testimonies. Thank you for opening my eyes and getting closure to a sudden and tragic death which could have been prevented.
Diana
DVT in 2001. Doctor put me on Plavix. Safer than aspirin… yeah, right. Changed docs. He kept me on it. Changed docs again last year. He wanted me to see a hemotologist who FINALLY took me off Plavix. Yes, I could have stopped taking it myself but these were DOCTORS. Now I have MGUS and low blood platelets. Medical costs are rising because of this over-prescribed, dangerous drug. Haven’t sued yet. Looking into it though.
RICK
06-27-2008 STENT IMPLANT,PLACED ON PLAVIX. JULY 22, 2008 ER FLA. HOSPITAL ORLANDO 45 DAYS IN HOSPITAL 27 DAYS WAS IN A COMMA. FINDINGS: EMPHYSEMATOUS CHANGES WITH MULTIPLE BULLAE IN THE RIGHT UPPER LOBE, HAD ENLARGED MEDIASTINAL AND HILAR ADENOPATHIES AT: LEVEL 7, 4, 10 AND 11. MORE TO FOLLOW ON REQUEST
Lynda
Plavix gave my Mother TTP which killed her in 2003, during the time that Medical Professionals were being told this was not possible. This drug, no more effective than asprin, was marketed as some wonder drug and the drug company made million. Now after the fact we are hopeful that the truth might be told. My wonderful Mother nor her care givers were told about the downside of this drug. When she questioned it’s use and asked to be taken off of it, her Dr. checked with the drug company who told him it was safe and to keep her on it….
Larry
Thank God !!!!!! , These Big Drug Companies care less about the dangers of their product , they only care about profit, I was one of those poor souls who was strickened with the rare blood disorder ” TTP ” after taking plavix for two weeks, Cudos to New Jersey Supreme Court Judge Freda Wolfson for knowing this was the right thing to do.
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