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Possible safety problem with the drug Xeljanz

| May 3, 2019 | Medical Product Liability

A few years back, the drug manufacturer Pfizer promoted its new product, Xeljanz, as a medicine that could treat a number of ailments that can afflict residents of Northern Georgia.

For instance, Xeljanz supposedly can treat significant cases of both rheumatoid arthritis, which leads to joint pain, and colitis, which is a problem in one’s digestive track that can cause stomach pain and other symptoms. It is basically an anti-inflammatory drug that does not require one to take injections.

However, a relatively recent warning from the federal Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, suggests that the drug’s benefits may not outweigh the risks of taking it, at least with respect to those who take it for the symptoms of arthritis.

What prompted the warning was a recent study which suggested that arthritis patients who took a high dose of Xeljanz, 10 milligrams twice a day, were more prone to blood clots. Blood blots are a dangerous condition. If they affect the lungs or other vital organs, blood clots can be fatal.

The FDA indicated that it will continue to review the case and to work with Pfizer with respect to improving warning information about the drug.

It is important to note that Xeljanz is not recommended in the 10 milligram dose for patients who suffer from arthritis. Therefore, in addition to a medical product liability case against the manufacturer, a patient who was on Xeljanz and suffered a blood clot, or the patient’s family, may also have other legal claims if a medical professional improperly suggested a higher dose of the drug than what neither Pfizer nor the FDA were comfortable with.