TAXOTERE® WORKS, BUT AT WHAT EXPENSE?
Taxotere® is manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis and is one of the most relied upon breast cancer prescription drugs within its class. In fact, doctors have prescribed this chemo-therapy medication to as many as 75 percent of all women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States.
This drug has been shown to help extend the life of many breast cancer patients, but does come with some side effects that were unwanted and unexpected. One side effect includes alopecia, better known as hair loss.
The drug first received FDA approval in 1996 and has continued to be one of the most popular breast cancer treatments. According to BreastCancer.org, more than three million women have breast cancer and live with it from day to day.
Taxotere® is the most relied on breast cancer treatment and it is said that most women will receive this prescription medication at some point during their cancer treatment plan. The manufacturer of Taxotere® says this drug is the most commonly prescribed drug in its class.
While this may be the most popularly prescribed breast cancer medication, women who have received the medication have suffered side effects such as permanent hair loss. It is alleged by consumers that this shocking side effect was not widely told to patients. If the side effect was clear to patients, would they have still chosen to take Taxotere® ?
If you or someone you love has suffered from permanent hair loss due to Taxotere® , contact Hughes & Coleman now to discuss your options and the possibilities of compensation.
Most cancer patients who receive chemotherapy know that hair loss is part of the process, but this hair loss is usually only temporary. According to lawsuits filed however, when patients were prescribed Taxotere® as their chemotherapy drug, they may not have been told or properly informed that it could result in permanent hair loss.
Not only can Taxotere® result in permanent hair loss, it can affect ALL of the patient’s body hair including hair on the head, pubic hair, arm hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes.
Studies conducted have proven the claims of permanent hair loss to be true. One study conducted by the manufacturer (Sanofi-Aventis) itself, revealed that almost 10 percent of patients experienced hair loss.
Another study conducted by Annals of Oncology showed that out of 20 women, 19 of them had permanent hair loss including their eyelashes and eyebrows.
In 2006, a study was conducted by Dr. Scot Sedlacek. In his study, he found that 6.3 percent of patients had experienced permanent hair loss after taking Taxotere® .
In 2011, the American Journal of Dermatopathology found that there is a strong connection between permanent hair loss and chemotherapy treatment plans.
In addition to hair loss, patients also experienced other side effects that ranged in severity.
Some of these additional side effects include:
- Sores in the mouth
- Fluid retention
- Diarrhea
- Weakness in the body and fatigue
- Loss of fingernails
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Infections
Taxotere® currently has a black box warning, one of the most serious warnings from the FDA.
The black box warning on the product specifically lists the following conditions:
- Hypersensitivity reactions
- Hepatoxicity
- Toxic death
- Fluid retention
As you can see, the black box warning does not include information about permanent hair loss. Plaintiffs in the lawsuits allege that Sanofi-Aventis should have known or did know about the permanent hair loss risk associated with Taxotere® .
As of 2010, Sanofi-Aventis did remove language from the box that said, “hair generally grows back.” In addition to that, in late 2015, the manufacturer also added a statement on the box that said, “Cases of permanent alopecia have been reported.”
While the statements are now available on the box, they come too late for some who took the medication and suffered from unexpected hair loss. Patients allege in their lawsuits that the manufacturer never made an attempt to notify consumers about the possibility of hair loss prior to these instances.
The FDA requires drug manufacturers to provide patients and medical professionals with adequate information about their medications. If permanent hair loss had been clearly disclosed to users, many may not have chosen to use Taxotere® in their treatment plan.
HUGHES & COLEMAN WANTS TO WORK WITH YOU
The personal injury lawyers at Hughes & Coleman are ready to work with you. We believe that all pharmaceutical manufacturers should be held liable for their negligence and failure to properly warn patients about the risks associated with their products.
If you or someone you love has permanently lost their hair after taking Taxotere® , contact Hughes & Coleman now for a FREE case evaluation. You may be entitled to compensation.
Cases likely to be referred.
Do not stop taking a prescribed medication without first consulting your doctor. Discontinuing a prescribed medication without your doctor’s advice can result in injury or death.
