A New Jersey Taxotere hair loss lawsuit may be an option for chemotherapy patients who took Taxotere and suffered permanent hair loss. Taxotere, a chemotherapy drug used to treat breast, prostate, non-small cell lung cancer, stomach, and head and neck cancers, has been linked to permanent, disfiguring hair loss. Affected patients and their families may be eligible to file a New Jersey Taxotere lawsuit and seek compensation for damages.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for New Jersey today. Our consultations are free, confidential and without any obligation on your part. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated Taxotere lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What Is Taxotere?
According to the Mayo Clinic, Taxotere works by inhibiting the growth of malignant cells, which stops the spread of cancer in affected patients. When it comes to uses of Taxotere, the drug can be used to treat many different types of cancers, including those found in the breast, prostate, lungs and stomach. Also referred to by its generic name docetaxel, Taxotere is included in a class of medications known as antineoplastics.
Possible Taxotere Side Effects
While Taxotere is purported to be safe by manufacturers, the National Cancer Institute lists a number of potential side effects:
- Loss of appetite
- Problems with throat or mouth
- Trouble sleeping
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Fluid buildup in the lymph nodes
- Constipation
Use of Taxotere has also been linked to issues with fertility in both men and women. The drug may also cause patients to develop nerve damage, which is exhibited by numbness in the extremities, muscle cramping and an impairment to one’s ability to feel pain.
Taxotere and Permanent Hair Loss
In addition to the above complications, many patients taking Taxotere have also experienced hair loss. While hair loss (also referred to as alopecia) is common among many cancer treatments, Taxotere is associated with a permanent loss of hair that persists even when the drug is no longer being taken. CBS News reports on this occurrence, detailing studies which show that hair loss commonly impacts those prescribed the drug.
One study cited by the European Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency showed that baldness was still a problem five years after treatment for 3 percent of patients. Permanent hair loss has been exhibited by 6.3 percent of patients taking Taxotere, according to another study. Despite the frequency of this side effect, Taxotere product labels do not mention a risk of permanent hair loss.
Taxotere Lawsuits Filed
Patients suffering from continual hair loss after being treated with Taxotere have alleged manufacturer negligence due to the lack of warning. In one case, a former breast cancer sufferer cited Taxotere as the cause of her permanent alopecia. The woman claims she was not adequately alerted to the possibility of permanent hair loss and was therefore prevented from seeking alternate treatments for her condition.
In another case, a woman claimed that Taxotere’s manufacturer Sanofi-Aventis intentionally withheld information from the medical community related to permanent hair loss. Both cases cited previous studies illustrating the possibility of permanent hair loss in some patients taking Taxotere.
FDA Safety Warnings
Along with numerous studies on the potential side effects of Taxotere, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also compiled a list of safety information. In addition to adverse events and drug interactions, Taxotere is also associated with impaired eye function, including cystoid macular edema. The FDA advises medical professionals to seek an alternative treatment if the condition arises. Furthermore, a thorough eye examination should be conducted if patients start having problems with their vision.
The FDA also says that doctors should identify whether patients are planning to use any machines, including vehicles, due to the existence of alcohol in the drug. This is because there have been reports of the central nervous system being affected by the alcohol contained in the drug. Accordingly, the agency urges health care professionals to make patients aware of these intoxicating effects.
How a New Jersey Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuit Can Help
Drug makers have a duty to provide safe products. If there are risks of harm associated with their products, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
People injured by bad drugs may be eligible to recover money for:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
The families of those who have died may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for New Jersey. You can fill out the form on this page or contact us by phone or email.
After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
