Have you suffered preventable harm from prescription drug side effects that a manufacturer didn’t adequately disclose? This type of issue is unfortunately common, especially for many medications used in chemotherapy treatments. For instance, a widely-used chemotherapy drug called Taxotere, also known as docetaxel, can lead to a serious health condition called peripheral neuropathy.

This medical issue can reduce your quality of life, cause undue stress, and prevent you from independently managing even simple daily tasks. With the help of Hotze Runkle PLLC, you can hold Sanofi-Aventis accountable for not providing proper documentation about this potential side effect. We can stand up against this pharmaceutical giant to uphold your rights and demand fair compensation for your suffering.

What Is Taxotere?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Taxotere as a cancer treatment drug in 1996. It is a microtubule inhibitor, which means it stops the function of cellular components that help cells grow, divide, and multiply by damaging those components. This feature of the drug allows it to target and destroy cancer cells

This drug has an FDA black box warning, the highest warning level issued by the agency. It indicates life-threatening side effects are possible. The potential risks of taking Taxotere include:

Peripheral neuropathy
Severe fluid retention
Hypersensitivity reactions
Neutropenia (low white blood cell count)
Hepatotoxicity (liver disease)
Toxic death

You can only receive Taxotere intravenously while under the direct care of a medical professional. Taxotere treatment plans usually include multiple cycles and the chances of severe side effects like peripheral neuropathy increase with each dose of Taxotere.

What Is Peripheral Neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that affects the nerves in areas outside the brain and spinal cord, causing muscle weakness and numbness. Common symptoms of this condition include diminished motor skills and sensory problems. It can also lead to issues with automatic body functions like digestion.

If you have peripheral neuropathy, you might experience symptoms like:

Uncontrolled movements
Paralysis
Weakness
Numbness
Balance issues
Inability to feel pain
Blood pressure changes
Troubles with bowel or bladder control
Excessive or insufficient sweating
Skin color changes
Blurred vision

Because of how peripheral neuropathy manifests, you could face complications related to its symptoms. Common examples of serious problems related to peripheral neuropathy include increased risk of:

Burns
Bodily injuries
Infections
Falls

Unfortunately, treatment for peripheral neuropathy can only ease symptoms and reduce the risk of complications. There is currently no cure. Common treatment options for peripheral neuropathy include:

Pain relieving drugs
Anti-seizure medications
Topical creams
Antidepressants
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
Plasma exchange
Intravenous immune globulin infusions
Physical therapy

It is common for this condition to resolve independently, but many side effects can be long-lasting. A knowledgeable injury lawyer can help you demand compensation for the full extent of your personal suffering and related financial losses.

Linking Peripheral Neuropathy to Taxotere Use

Peripheral neuropathy is a known issue associated with the use of Taxotere. Studies showing the connection go back to when the drug first received approval for cancer treatment use. Sanofi-Aventis knew about this potential side effect but profited from Taxotere sales.

One study published in the Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology looked into how Taxotere causes peripheral neuropathy by considering the prevalence and severity of this condition in Taxotere patients. The researchers also considered how peripheral neuropathy affects patients’ daily life.

Researchers found that, in cumulative doses greater than 600 mg, many patients experienced moderate to severe peripheral neuropathy symptoms. It only took two to four doses of Taxotere for most patients to start reporting signs of the condition.

The National Cancer Institute also recognizes peripheral neuropathy as a serious side effect of Taxotere, citing another study showing that 40 percent of female Taxotere patients said they still had symptoms after two years off the drug. Ten percent of those women said their symptoms were severe. In addition, the research found that patients often get no information about this risk.

Holding Sanofi-Aventis Accountable

Peripheral neuropathy is only one of the multiple Taxotere side effects causing issues for innocent cancer patients. It is time to hold Sanofi-Aventis accountable for not being transparent about the potential consequences of taking this drug. This multi-billion dollar corporation withheld information and used misleading marketing to protect its profitability, putting countless people at risk.

With the help of a knowledgeable lawyer, you could file a lawsuit to force the company to accept responsibility and make real changes so that what happened to you will not happen to others. For instance, the court might order Sanofi-Aventis to make warnings more prominent, conduct further studies, and provide adequate information to future medication users.

Under Texas product liability law, you can file a civil lawsuit against the manufacturer for the suffering and losses you experience due to peripheral neuropathy. You can base your claim on the company’s failure to warn of potential side effects adequately.

Launching a lawsuit against a pharmaceutical company is a difficult task without the help of a knowledgeable and experienced attorney. The company will have high-powered attorneys fighting to protect its assets and prevent you from winning any claim. Your attorney can be a guide to help you navigate the court system and stand up to sly corporate lawyers as you demand justice.

Seek Help Today From a Qualified Texas Attorney

At Hotze Runkle PLLC, we are dedicated to standing up against Big Pharma on behalf of our clients. We know the devastating impact peripheral neuropathy can have and are eager to hold Sanofi-Aventis accountable for its negligence.

Contact us now for a free consultation. We are waiting for your call at (800) 763-6155. Our attorneys don’t charge any fees upfront, and we’ll only take payment when we win compensation for your case. Let us take the pressure off you and stand up for your rights while you focus on your health.