Taxotere can cause permanent hair loss
And the maker of Taxotere didn't tell you...
Patients taking this drug experienced permanent hair loss, a side effect the company didn't disclose when the drug was launched.
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Last updated: January 3, 2023
About Taxotere
Taxotere has been the subject of controversy in recent years. It is a drug used to treat a variety of cancers, including breast, lung, prostate, stomach, and head and neck cancer.
However, many patients experiencedpermanent alopeciawhen using Taxotere, a side effect that was not mentioned by the drug manufacturer. Because of this, in 2023 and earlier, thousands of lawsuits were filed against Taxotere by women who took the drug during breast cancer treatment and suffered from permanent hair loss.
Taxotere is most commonly given in combination with other medications, such as cisplatin, doxorubicin, and fluorouracil. These drugs are combined to give patients the best chance of defeating a cancer diagnosis.
Infusion cycles typically last an hour, and these infusions are given every three to four weeks.
Taxotere is administered to a patient through a vein as there is no tablet form of the drug. Premedication is given to patients approximately three days before starting Taxotere treatment.
The amount of drug a patient would receive depends on several factors such as height, weight, general health, type of cancer and cancer stage. It is up to a specialist to determine how much Taxotere to give and for how long.
side effects
Öside effectsTaxotere includes the following:
• Excessive fluid retention leading to weight gain
• Low white or red blood cell count
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Canker sores
• hair loss
• Fatigue and weakness
• Infection
• Color changes in toenails
• vomiting
• Muscle and joint pain
Why are these lawsuits being filed?
The reason why lawsuits are being filed against the manufacturer of this drug is because of the side effects associated with it.permanent hair loss. Many patients have taken Taxotere over the past few years and have found that their hair does not grow back.
Although hair loss is part of many cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, in these cases it is temporary. With this drug, the hair loss appears to be permanent, a side effect the company didn't disclose when the drug was first released.
The article will continue after the summary.
page content
- 1 Taxotere can cause permanent hair loss
- 2 Check if you qualify
- 3 About Taxotere
- 3.1 Side Effects
- 4 Why are these lawsuits being shelved?
- 4.1 Permanent hair loss
- 6 Taxotere MDL
- 6.1 2023 updates for Taxotere
- 7 Taxotere Action October 2018 Update
- 8 Have you been hurt?
permanent hair loss
While it may seem that patients exaggerate the side effect of permanent hair loss, they don't see it that way. Many patients undergoing treatment were given this drug as part of their fight against cancer. But there are other comparable medications that work just as well as Taxotere and do not cause permanent hair loss.
For women treated with this substance, permanent alopecia is something that has a very detrimental effect on their self-esteem and the rest of their lives.
If Taxotere were the only drug that treats a specific cancer, or had a higher efficacy rate compared to other products, the lawsuit might not have much merit. Permanent hair loss would be considered an acceptable side effect.
However, the drug is no different from others on the market. It is no more effective than its competitors, and these drugs do not cause permanent hair loss.
And for women, permanent hair loss is something that can lead to severe depression, low self-esteem, and anxiety.
Cancer victims who have already endured so much trauma and hardship to overcome their condition have now been treated to a reality where their hair is not growing back.
Archiving and Accounting
Unlike some other lawsuits against drug manufacturers, there is currently no class action in this case. If a patent needs to file a lawsuit, they would do it themselves. The decision to file a lawsuit, settle, or go to court is entirely yours.
It is very important to talk to an attorney straight away if you have had a side effect of permanent alopecia after taking Taxotere as part of your cancer treatment. The longer a person waits to file, the more difficult it can be to get their case to a stage where a settlement is possible. Do not hesitate to contact us and fill out the form that you see when you access this page.
The only downside to filing is that it can take years to reach a favorable agreement — but that makes filing quickly all the more important.
One of the good things about filing a lawsuit at this stage is that the drugmaker tends to come to a settlement. Almost none of these Taxotere-related lawsuits will go to court. 99 percent of them are solved, which is how the drugmaker wants things to be done.
As long as you have a solid case and a good lawyer on your side, a favorable settlement is quite possible.
There are eligibility requirements. You must be female and have recovered from stage I, II or III breast cancer. The patient must have received Taxotere intravenously, taken the drug before December 2015 and experienced permanent hair loss.
If you or someone you know falls into this category, filing a lawsuit is important.
Serious compensation is to be demanded from the manufacturer Sanofi-Aventis.
Patients suffering from permanent hair loss can expect compensation from the Taxotere manufacturer for the following reasons:
• Mental and emotional suffering
• Loss of earnings and potential earnings
• Medical bills and/or therapist bills for psychological counseling
Every person is different. Some cases may just result in damage to medical bills, while for other patients the entire list of reasons may come into play. To determine how much you can earn in a Taxotere process, please contact us using the contact form on this page.
Another benefit of a lawsuit related to this drug is the fact that you will only have to pay an attorney if the lawsuit is successful. If there is an acceptable settlement offer or you win in court, your attorney will receive a percentage of those winnings.
If your case does not result in a financial award, your attorney will not receive payment.There is no obligation to pay an attorney when filing a Taxotere lawsuit.
Taxotere MDL
The type of lawsuit brought against Taxotere manufacturers is known as a multi-district litigation orMDL. Most of the cases are against Sonofi, the original makers of Taxotere. But there are also generic versions of the drug, and these versions report the same side effects. These generic versions are also the subject of lawsuits.
It is up to each individual to decide which version of Taxotere was administered by doctors during breast cancer treatment.
The idea behind the Taxotere trial is MDL because all cases are referred to a court and tried before a judge. This also means that litigation can proceed more quickly and individuals filing suits can expect a similar settlement offer from manufacturers in any case.
If the cases were tried in different courts in different states, the possible settlement offers would depend heavily on whether the manufacturer expects the judge to rule in its favor or not.
2023 updates for Taxotere
As of May 2017, more than 1,000 claims have been filed in the Taxotere MDL against Sanofi-Aventis and other manufacturers. About 50% of the cases involve the original manufacturer, while the other 50% are against generic manufacturers. Both types of processes are included in the same CDM. And the number of lawsuits is expected to increase as more patients become aware of the possibility of making a claim.
The drug first got the green light in 1996, but the fact that permanent hair loss was a side effect wasn't mentioned on drug labels until December 2015. Anyone treated with Taxotere after December 2015 is NOT eligible to archive.
Update of the Taxotere promotion October 2018
According to the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, as of August 2018, a total of 9,063 proceedings are pending in the taxotere (docetaxel) product liability dispute. People filed lawsuits throughout the year. Plaintiffs including Barbara M. and Meredith H. of Louisiana brought their stories to the court by the end of July 2018.
Finally, in August 2018, another 353 cases were consolidated in New Jersey Superior Court as new multi-county litigation. A conference was scheduled for Oct. 4 in a cable issued shortly after the centralization request was approved. After the conference, the litigation will continue and the dates for the first reference cases to be assessed will be set. During the last week of September, attorneys speaking on behalf of the plaintiffs and defendants filed statements detailing all the parties involved and auxiliary attorneys and possible grounds for denials. While preliminary talks about a possible deal have taken place, no official statement has been released yet. Claims brought in multi-county litigation may also be included in the federal mass civil liability suit.
The upcoming trials, which will affect all future trials, were planned by District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo, who recently took over from Judge Kurt D. Engelhard. The dates have been set for May and September 2019 and May and September 2020. The first nominee, to be presented to a jury on January 11, 2019, will be selected from claims submitted by Louisiana plaintiffs Lisa Tuyes, Barbara Earnest, Antoinette Durden and Tania Francis. Another group of 24 claims will be added to the pool by November 2018.
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FAQs
When will the Taxotere lawsuit be settled? ›
As of October 2022, Taxotere litigation is still pending and there are 10,859 hair loss lawsuits and 87 lawsuits for vision problems in Louisiana federal court. There have been no Taxotere lawsuit payouts to date.
What is the rate of permanent hair loss with Taxotere? ›But up to about 6% of Taxotere patients have permanent hair follicle damage. There are many treatments available to help with hair loss, but only a few are scientifically proven to work and when they do, the results are minimal or don't apply to Taxotere patients.
Does Taxotere still cause permanent hair loss? ›Patients undergoing chemotherapy with Taxol (paclitaxel) are able to regrow their hair after their course of treatment is completed. However, with Taxotere, the hair loss can be permanent.
Is the Taxotere lawsuit over? ›August 1, 2022 Update: Sanofi filed a motion to dismiss all 25 claims in the Taxotere eye injury class action lawsuit pending in federal court in Louisiana.
Does everyone lose their hair on Taxotere? ›Most people will lose all their hair, including eyebrows, eyelashes and body hair. You may begin to lose your hair about two weeks after the first treatment, but it can happen earlier.
What is the most common permanent treatment for hair loss? ›Hair transplant
In the most common type of permanent hair loss, only the top of the head is affected. Hair transplant, or restoration surgery, can make the most of the hair you have left.
Docetaxel Coupons & Prices
Taxotere is a prescription medication used to treat breast cancer. Docetaxel is the generic version of Taxotere. The average cost of Taxotere is around $609 for a supply of 1 ml, 20 mg/mL intravenous solution.
Five-year cancer-free survival was 86% among women treated with TC and 80% among women treated with AC. Overall survival was 90% among women treated with TC and 87% among women treated with AC. Nausea and vomiting were more common among women treated with AC.
Which chemo drug causes permanent hair loss? ›Conclusions: Both docetaxel and paclitaxel may cause permanent scalp hair loss, but it is significantly more prevalent with docetaxel compared with paclitaxel.
Which chemotherapy causes permanent hair loss? ›Not all chemotherapy causes hair loss, but some chemotherapy drugs are more likely to cause hair loss or thinning. They include: Altretamine (Hexalen) Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
What old medicine grows new hair? ›
It is minoxidil, an old and well-known hair-loss treatment drug used in a very different way. Rather than being applied directly to the scalp, it is being prescribed in very low-dose pills.
Is Taxotere still on the market? ›Has Taxotere Been Recalled? With the side effects of Taxotere, you may want to know if the authorities have recalled it. The U.S. FDA has not pulled the drug from the market. However, that Taxotere is still legally circulating doesn't affect your lawsuit against the manufacturer.
What are the long term effects of Taxotere? ›Permanent Hair Loss Side Effects of Taxotere
Inner hair cells within the ear are most likely to experience hair cell damage. That inner hair cell damage often results in deafness because those inner hair cells are the way the brain starts processing auditory information.
This medication is used to treat cancer (such as breast, lung, prostate, stomach, and head/neck cancer).
What are the worst days on Taxotere? ›It was neoadjuvant chemotherapy, including Taxanes (Taxotere), Carboplatin, and Trastuzumab (Herceptin). Days 4 and 5 were the hardest: nausea or just energy, emotions. Got better on Day 6 and got better on Day 7.
How long can you take Taxotere? ›Health care providers administer Taxotere through an IV for one hour every three weeks, according to the drug's label. Depending on the type of cancer, this can continue for several cycles.
Does Taxotere cause weight gain? ›Some of the most common side effects experienced by individuals treated with Taxotere include low white blood cell counts, swelling and weight gain, nausea, mouth sores, hair loss, fatigue, and even loss of nails. Most of these side effects do clear up after chemotherapy treatment is done.
How long does a Taxotere infusion take? ›Taxotere is given as a drip (infusion) through a fine needle (cannula) inserted into the vein. It can also be given through a central line (a tube inserted into a vein in the chest) or a PICC line (a tube inserted into the crook of your arm). The infusion takes about 60 minutes.
Does Taxotere prolong life? ›three months). The SWOG trial investigators reported a 27-percent increase in disease-progression-free survival and a 55-percent increase in objective response rate in the Taxotere®-containing arm. In addition, the majority of patients had a PSA decline of more than 50 percent.
What is the most life threatening side effect of chemotherapy? ›Infections. Chemotherapy can reduce your body's ability to fight infection. This makes you more likely to get infections that could make you seriously ill.
What is the best vitamin for thinning hair? ›
“Vitamins are essential for healthy hair growth and may help in preventing hair shedding and thinning,” says Michele Green, M.D., a cosmetic dermatologist in New York. “The best vitamins for hair growth include B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc, biotin and iron.
What is the best hair loss treatment in the world? ›What's the most effective hair loss treatment? Minoxidil (Rogaine) is regarded as one of the most effective hair loss treatments. Topical minoxidil can be an effective treatment for androgenic hair loss,. Some studies demonstrate improvement in up to 70 percent of users.
How much are chemo pills monthly? ›Common and Costly Chemotherapy Drugs
Depending on the drug and type of cancer it treats, the average monthly cost of chemo drugs can range from $1,000 to $12,000. If a cancer patient requires four chemo sessions a year, it could cost them up to $48,000 total, which is beyond the average annual income.
Docetaxel therapy is frequently associated with serum enzyme elevations which are usually transient and mild, but more importantly has been linked to rapid onset, severe hypersensitivity reactions that can be associated with acute hepatic necrosis, liver failure and death.
Which is worse Taxol or Taxotere? ›Early studies indicated that Taxotere might be more aggressive and successful at eliminating cancerous cells in the body because the drug could infiltrate the cell at higher levels than Taxol.
How long does docetaxel extend life? ›On average, 50% of men given docetaxel and hormone therapy were still alive after five years, compared to 40% of those given hormone therapy alone.
How long can you live with docetaxel? ›Overall survival rates at 4 years were 89% in the standard treatment arm and 93% in the standard treatment plus docetaxel-based chemotherapy arm. Six-year rates for disease-free survival were 55% in the standard treatment arm and 65% in the standard treatment plus docetaxel arm.
Can Taxotere cause nerve damage? ›Many women who receive taxane-based chemotherapy to treat breast cancer experience long-term peripheral neuropathy, according to follow-up data from a large clinical trial.
Can hair loss from chemo be permanent? ›They can tell you what to expect. Fortunately, most of the time hair loss from chemotherapy is temporary. You can expect to regrow your hair three to six months after your treatment ends, though your hair may temporarily be a different shade or texture.
Is there any chemotherapy without hair loss? ›Most people think that chemotherapy drugs always cause hair loss. But some don't cause any hair loss at all or only slight thinning. Other types of chemotherapy may cause complete hair loss. It might include your eyelashes, eyebrows, underarm, leg and sometimes pubic hair.
What helps hair growth after chemo? ›
The best vitamin to combat hair loss from chemo and stimulate hair growth after chemo is Biotin, or vitamin B7. Biotin is the go to vitamin when talking about healthy hair, skin, and nails. Biotin stimulates the keratin production in hair and can increase the rate of follicle growth.
How can I stop my hair from falling out during chemo? ›Wearing a scalp cooling cap during chemotherapy infusions might help prevent hair loss. These caps are thought to slow the flow of blood to your scalp. This may limit the amount of chemotherapy medication that reaches your scalp, reducing its effects on your hair follicles.
What is the best moisturizer for chemo scalp? ›Try a moisturizer that contains ceramides such as CeraVe® or Curel® or organic oils such as coconut, sesame or olive oils.
What is the best oil for hair growth after chemo? ›Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are said to encourage regrowth, and many cancer patients wanting hair growth often times rub essential oils such as rosemary, ylang-ylang, bergamot and lavender into their scalp to regenerate and stimulate the cells.
What prescription makes your hair grow? ›Finasteride slows the rate of hair loss and stimulates new hair growth by inhibiting the body's production of a hormone that destroys hair follicles. This medication is taken once a day by mouth and is most effective when taken at the same time each day.
What is the ingredient to regrow hair? ›Minoxidil Has Long Been the Gold Standard Hair Regrowth Ingredient in the U.S., But New Options Are Gaining Steam. In the United States, topical minoxidil is an oft-recommended chemical hair growth ingredient, and it's one of the only approved by the FDA for hair regrowth.
What is the best product for regrowing hair? ›- Women's Rogaine 5% Minoxidil Foam. ...
- Hims. ...
- Keranique Hair Regrowth Treatment for Women. ...
- Keeps. ...
- The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density. ...
- Better Not Younger Superpower Hair & Scalp Duo. ...
- Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore Shampoo.
Taxotere Hair Loss Lawsuits
In pursuing Taxotere lawsuits against Sanofi, plaintiffs argued the company had knowledge of the risks of chemotherapy-induced alopecia since 2006 but failed to take the appropriate level of responsibility to warn doctors and patients.
Taxotere is a chemotherapy drug most commonly used to treat breast cancer. Though Taxotere helps to save lives, it can cause a permanent form of hair loss that may change them forever. Taxotere side effects also include kidney damage, fluid retention, and toxic death.
What is the generic for Taxotere? ›Taxotere is the trade name for docetaxel. In some cases, health care professionals may use the trade name taxotere when referring to the generic drug name docetaxel. Drug type: Docetaxel is an anti-cancer ("antineoplastic" or "cytotoxic") chemotherapy drug.
How common is permanent hair loss with Taxotere? ›
Taxotere manufacturer, Sanofi-Aventis, alleges that long-term alopecia–permanent hair loss–only occurs in about three percent of patients. This differs from the findings of other studies, which identified a higher risk of permanent baldness. Dr.
Did your hair grow back after Taxotere? ›As long as the hair follicles have not been permanently destroyed by Taxotere, the hair should regrow. But up to about 6% of Taxotere patients have permanent hair follicle damage.
Has the Taxotere lawsuit been settled? ›As of October 2022, Taxotere litigation is still pending and there are 10,859 hair loss lawsuits and 87 lawsuits for vision problems in Louisiana federal court. There have been no Taxotere lawsuit payouts to date.
How long does a Bellwether trial last? ›How Long Does a Bellwether Trial Last? Personal injury trials such as bellwether trials in mass torts can take anywhere from days to weeks or longer. How long these trials will last depends on the individual factors in each individual case.
How long does it take to get over docetaxel? ›Docetaxel may cause severe lack or loss of strength, which can last a few days up to several weeks. Tell your doctor if you unusual tiredness or weakness. This medicine contains alcohol and may cause some people to become drowsy, dizzy, or less alert than they are normally.
What happens at a bellwether trial? ›A bellwether trial will involve consolidating many lawsuits taken from a larger group to be tried first. This trial will determine the settlement of any other cases for both the plaintiffs and defendants.
How many bellwether cases are there? ›The judge in the Drug X MDL starts the bellwether selection process by creating an initial pool of 60 bellwether candidate cases. 20 of these cases are randomly selected by a computer. 20 are selected by lawyers for the plaintiffs and 20 are picked by the defense.
How much are Gilead lawsuit settlements? ›To date, no Truvada lawsuits have been settled. However, in September 2020, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) reported that Gilead had agreed to pay $97 million to resolve claims that the company had violated the False Claims Act in relation to its pulmonary arterial hypertension drug Letairis.
What does Taxotere do to your body? ›About: Docetaxel (Taxotere)
Docetaxel works by disrupting the microtubular network in cells, which is essential for cell division and other normal cellular functions. Docetaxel interferes with the function of microtubules, resulting in inactive microtubule bundles, causing cells to die.
Pain or swelling at the injection site, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive tearing, fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness, feeling drunk, constipation, and loss of appetite may occur. Nausea and vomiting can be severe. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe medication to prevent or relieve nausea and vomiting.
How many years does chemo stay in your body? ›
It generally takes about 48 to 72 hours for your body to break down and/or get rid of most chemo drugs.
How many cycles of docetaxel can you have? ›In a clinical trial of docetaxel for CRPC, the frequencies of PN were 32% [1] (maximum 10 cycles) and 41% (maximum 12 cycles) [17]. Considering the results of the present study, the incidence of PN with docetaxel is higher in patients with CRPC than in those with other cancers.
Does your body ever fully recover from chemotherapy? ›A return to normalcy is typical, but it takes a while – usually six months or so. “All who have done chemo do finally get back to normal,” Patricia said.