Did You Suffer Permanent Side Effects Due to Taxotere?

Going through cancer treatments is a trying, traumatic process for any patient. Unfortunately, certain medications and drug treatments have severe, unlisted side effects or can cause permanent damage to your body. This has been shown to be the case with Taxotere, a chemotherapy medication that is currently the subject of multi-district litigation (MDL) here in the United States.

If you or a loved one has suffered a debilitating side effect due to the administration of Taxotere, you should immediately consult with a lawyer. The experienced San Diego mass tort attorneys at Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers are currently investigating claims against the manufacturer of Taxotere, Sanofi Aventis, and are ready to help victims receive the compensation they deserve.

Call the Jurewitz San Diego injury and accident Law Group today at (619) 233-5020 to learn how we can help you.

What Are the Problems Associated with Taxotere?

Taxotere is the brand name of a chemotherapy medication (docetaxel) used to treat various forms of cancer, including breast cancer, head and neck cancer, stomach cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer. It is normally administered intravenously, either alone or in conjunction with other medications. It was patented in 1986.

While there are some generic forms of docetaxel available on the market, it is primarily sold under the brand name Taxotere by the French multinational pharmaceutical company Sanofi Aventis, which won approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to sell the drug in the United States in 1996. While it has been deemed effective at halting the spread of or reducing cancer in patients, there are a number of significant side effects associated with its use, some of which went unreported for many years after their discovery.

One of the most lamentable side effects is permanent alopecia, or total hair loss. While temporary alopecia is a well-known and acceptable side effect of chemotherapy, permanent hair loss is not. We know what it must be like for patients to survive the grueling ordeal of cancer only to learn that they have been permanently disfigured and there is no possibility of recovering their hair.

Other reported side effects include the following:

  • injection site reactions such as pain or swelling
  • nausea and vomiting
  • diarrhea or constipation
  • a loss of appetite
  • fatigue
  • muscle and joint pain
  • missed menstrual periods
  • fingernail or toenail changes

Although the drug has been available in the United States since 1996, and studies revealed that permanent hair loss was being observed in a significant number of cases as early as 2005, Sanofi Aventis did not add language to the label identifying permanent alopecia as a side effect until December 2015.

What Is a Mass Tort?

Lawsuits have been popping up nationwide on behalf of patients who suffered permanent hair loss as a result of Taxotere. This has led to these cases being grouped together in what is known as mass tort litigation.

A mass tort is a civil action in which many plaintiffs are harmed by one defendant, normally a corporation. The large number of suits are grouped together, usually in federal court. These types of cases are also referred to as multi-district litigation. They afford many victims the opportunity to come together and share evidence rather than having to litigate each case separately, and successful outcomes can involve massive sums of money that will be divided among the plaintiffs according to each one’s level of harm.

Sanofi Aventis is currently the subject of MDL, and victims must act quickly if they wish to be included in any impending settlement. If you or anyone you know has suffered permanent side effects due to Taxotere, contact us immediately. Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers has a proven track record of taking on large corporations and defending the rights of victims. Contact us today at (619) 233-5020 to schedule a free consultation.

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