Wilmington Taxotere Attorneys

Do You Have a Taxotere Side Effects?

Taxotere (docetaxel) is a chemotherapy medication, primarily used to treat breast cancer, but also prescribed for non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck cancer, advanced stomach cancer, and metastatic prostate cancer. The drug was developed by the French pharmaceutical giant, Sanofi-Aventis, and approved for human use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996. In recent years, though, Taxotere has come under increased scrutiny over its marketing and some very serious and permanent side effects. If you were prescribed Taxotere and have experienced side effects, you may have grounds for a Taxotere medication lawsuit. But taking on an enormous, European pharmaceutical corporation is no simple task. Companies like Sanofi-Aventis employ legions of skilled lawyers to get claims against them thrown out of court or have their liability minimized. To get a settlement worthy of your injuries, you'll need an attorney skilled in pharmaceutical litigation who will stand up to a huge company, as well as any other possibly liable parties, like hospitals, pharmacies, medication testing laboratories, pharmaceutical sales reps, and the doctor that prescribed the treatment.

Tenacious Representation in Wilmington

For almost two decades, attorneys at the offices of Wilmington's Rhine Law Firm, P.C. have been successfully representing North Carolina residents and their families, who have suffered injury or death from defective drugs. Let them put their experience to work on your claim by calling (866) 772-9960 for a free consultation.

Side Effects

Taxotere can cause alopecia, or permanent hair loss. Permanent hair loss can have devastating, emotional, and psychological effects on a person. It can lead to loss of joy of life, decreased quality of life, distress, depression, and negative body image. What's worse is that there's evidence that Sanofi-Aventis knew of this side effect many years before it warned potential patients in the U.S. It is also alleged that the company exaggerated the effectiveness of Taxotere, claiming that it was more effective than similar drugs that didn't cause permanent hair loss. Temporary hair loss is an expected side effect of many types of chemotherapy, permanent hair loss isn't. As one Taxotere victim put it, "The painful reality is that I will forever look like a cancer patient."

A variety of other side effects have been linked to the use of Taxotere, including diarrhea, anemia (low red blood cell count), low white blood cell count, weakness and fatigue, constipation, fluid retention and weight gain, swelling of the abdomen or ankles; bone, joint, or muscle pain; mouth or throat sores; numbness of fingers and toes; changes to the color of fingernails and toenails; nausea; changes in taste; and infection.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers have a duty to thoroughly test the medications they put on the market, and warn physicians and potential patients of any side effects that may be associated with them. In the case of Taxotere, many patients may have chosen a different drug had they known about the possibility of alopecia.

If you have suffered from side effects as a result of taking Taxotere or any other medication, you need to speak to a seasoned Wilmington defective drug attorney. Call Rhine Law Firm, P.C. for a free case evaluation at (866) 772-9960.

Additional Information

• Docetaxel Injection Information from MedlinePlus
• Docetaxel (Intravenous Route) Side Effects