Patients being treated for breast cancer are coming forward, alleging that the chemotherapy drug Taxotere has caused permanent hair loss. Permanent hair loss is a side effect that the manufacturer did not clearly disclose. Since 1999, the company Sanofi-Aventis has manufactured the drug Sanofi-Aventis. Taxotere (docetaxel) has been used to treat metastasized or advanced breast cancer and other forms of cancer.
While many cancer drugs are known to cause temporary hair loss, the patient’s hair will usually grow back after their treatment has ended. Unfortunately, some Taxotere users are later diagnosed with alopecia universalis, a condition that causes someone to lose all of their body hair, and the hair may never return.
Injuries Linked to Taxotere
Suppose you have suffered eye damage, hair loss, or other unexplained symptoms after taking Taxotere. In that case, it is crucial that you undergo a medical diagnosis and speak to an attorney as soon as possible. You only have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit for compensation, and you do not want to miss your opportunity to recover compensation for your injuries. You may be entitled to compensation through a personal injury lawsuit if you have suffered one or more of the following negative side effects if you have used Taxotere:
- Dry eye syndrome (keratoconjunctivitis
- Blocked tear ducts (nasolacrimal duct obstruction)
- Blurred vision
- Swollen eyelids
- Eye itchiness or irritation
- Permanent eye damage
- Tears streaming down the face
- Permanent hair loss over part or all of the body
- Stenosis or narrowing of the tear ducts
- Surgical intervention
- Increased eye floaters
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The Legal History of Taxotere Lawsuits
Taxotere is a brand name for the drug Docetaxel, which Rhone-Poulenc, now called Sanofi, patented in 1986. In 2003, the FDA approved the use of Taxotere for chemotherapy. Taxotere is part of a family of drugs known as taxanes. The drug slows the spread of cancer by preventing cell growth. The drug is most often used in chemotherapy for breast cancer. Taxotere can allegedly cause serious side effects that the company does not warn users about, including permanent eye damage and hair loss.
Lawsuits related to Taxotere causing permanent hair loss were consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL) in 2016. A separate MDL was established in 2022 for plaintiffs who suffered eye damage from Taxotere use. Both MDL cases are before a Louisiana federal district court that a sole federal district judge oversees. There are approximately 12,000 eye damage claims and 30,000 hair loss claims in the MDL lawsuits.
Vision Damage Lawsuits Related to Taxotere
Though most lawsuits involving Sanofi are related to patients’ permanent hair loss, other lawsuits and related to eye and vision problems. The manufacturing company has warned patients that Taxotere can cause epiphora, or excessive tearing, due to obstruction of the lacrimal duct. Many patients allege that Safoni failed to fully warn oncologists and patients that the damage to their eyes can be irreversible and happen quickly. Litigation related to eye damage from Taxotere remains in the pre-trial phase, with cases consolidated and moved into the Louisiana federal district court.
Permanent Hairloss Damages Related to Taxotere
Some patients who have used Taxotere have claimed that they developed permanent hair loss, called alopecia universalis, from the drug. If you were treated with Taxotere while being treated for breast cancer and you are still waiting for your hair to grow back, you could have a valid compensation claim. You should be aware of the following symptoms:
- Absence of hair anywhere on your body, including the underarm and genital region
- Lack of eyebrows
- Lack of eyelashes
- Baldness
Alopecia involves the permanent hair loss of hair on the body of the scalp. Instead of experiencing regrowth of hair three to four months after the use of the drug stops, those with alopecia never regrow their hair back. If your hair is not growing back, we recommend speaking to a physician to help you determine what is causing the hair loss. If your condition is diagnosed as alopecia universalis, you may be able to recover compensation.
There is evidence that the company had detailed and early knowledge of the negative long-term harm Taxotere can cause patients who take the drug. They allege that the company knew about the negative side effects but failed to make all of the information known to doctors and patients in a timely manner.
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The attorneys at Heninger Garrison Davis are filing personal injury lawsuits on behalf of Taxotere users against the drug manufacturers. If you have used the drug Taxotere, lost your hair, and it is not growing back due to permanent hair loss, you may have a valid legal claim for compensation. We will review your case and help you understand your legal rights. Do not hesitate to contact Heninger Garrison Davis to schedule your free case review and learn more about your legal rights.
