Taxotere is a chemotherapy drug used to treat patients who have been diagnosed with cancer. It is also known by its generic name docetaxel. Taxotere is made by Sanofi-Aventis and is part of the taxane family of pharmaceutical medications. Although it is used to treat many types of cancer, it has many known side effects and has a “black box” warning as required by the FDA. The most severe side effects include:
- Toxic death
- Hepatoxicity (liver damage)
- Neutropenia (inability to fight of infection)
- Hypersensitivity reactions (rash, low blood pressure, and fatal allergic reactions)
- Severe fluid retention
- Permanent hair loss
Taxotere Adverse Events
Side Effect Reports % of total
general disorders and administration site conditions
13,124
14
gastrointestinal disorders
12,844
9
investigations
9,163
8
respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
8,538
5
infections and infestations
7,073
5
musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
6,633
5
blood and lymphatic system disorders
6,565
2
nervous system disorders
5,813
9
skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
4,651
4
metabolism and nutrition disorders
4,518
3
neoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (incl cysts and polyps)
4,353
1
cardiac disorders
3,708
4
vascular disorders
2,995
2
injury, poisoning and procedural complications
2,570
5
renal and urinary disorders
2,060
2
surgical and medical procedures
1,952
1
psychiatric disorders
1,881
5
eye disorders
1,311
1
hepatobiliary disorders
1,125
1
immune system disorders
543
0
reproductive system and breast disorders
416
0
social circumstances
297
0
ear and labyrinth disorders
285
0
endocrine disorders
231
0
congenital, familial and genetic disorders
149
0
pregnancy, puerperium and perinatal conditions
112
0
Taxotere Lawsuits
Many lawsuits are currently being filed as a result of many female patients suffering permanent hair loss while taking this medication. If you are seeking legal help, it’s important to know that a taxotere lawyer will handle your case on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay any money up front. If your case is won, the attorney will take a percentage of the settlement or verdict as payment. The most common fees charged are 33% for cases that are settled and 40% for cases that go to trial but these don’t apply to all attorneys.
The basis of these lawsuits is usually one these listed below:
- Failure to disclose the danger and risks of taking Taxotere. According to lawsuits, Sanofi Aventis knew of the alopecia risk in 2005
- Failure to properly warn patients and doctors of the dangers and side effects of taking this drug
- Manufacturing and selling a dangerous drug
- Failure to properly test and determine Taxotere’s safety
- Hiding information from the public regarding the truth about Taxotere
- Making misleading or false claims about Taxotere in the marketing of this medication
Taxotere Forum
If you have suffered side effects from taking Taxotere, we’d like to hear about it in the comments below.