Do you have dry, watery eyes? Did you take the chemotherapy drug, Taxotere, manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis? If so, you may be eligible for substantial compensation. Taxotere, also called docetaxel, has been linked with a dangerous side effect called canalicular stenosis, a potentially permanent eye disorder marked by severely watery eyes.
If you have cancer, the strain of your recovery is hard enough without also having to treat harmful, secondary side effects of the drugs you’re taking. Patients need to be able to rely on the safety of the chemotherapy drugs their doctors prescribe. However, when a pharmaceutical company misleads the public about the dangers of using its product, it needs to be held accountable.
If you or someone you know is experiencing watery, teary eyes as a result of taking Taxotere, it’s important you seek medical and legal help right away. The Wyoming attorneys at Hotze Runkle PLLC have the experience and resources needed to hold Taxotere’s manufacturer responsible for the serious side effects of their drug, and for failing to let doctors and patients know about those side effects.
Don’t hesitate to seek the compensation you’re owed. This quiz can help you decide whether you should take part in the lawsuit against Sanofi-Aventis.
Taxotere: Known Risks
Taxotere is a chemotherapy drug commonly prescribed for breast cancer. It is also taken for other types of cancer, such as prostate cancer, lung cancer, and neck and stomach cancers. It is taken by injection, usually once every one, two, or three weeks.
There are a number of unpleasant side effects associated with the medication, but one that is less commonly known about by doctors is canalicular stenosis, which is a narrowing or obstruction of the channels which funnel tears into the nasal cavity. When this occurs, tears run down the face, and the patient may seem as though they are crying.
In addition to watery eyes, other symptoms of canalicular stenosis may include:
- Excessive eye redness
- Swelling around the eyes
- Sharp pain in or around the eyes
- The sensation that something is in your eye
- Blurred vision
- Light sensitivity
If you’re experiencing watery eyes or any of the other symptoms while taking or after finishing a regimen of Taxotere, you may have canalicular stenosis, and it needs to be treated as soon as possible to avoid expensive and invasive surgery.
Taxotere’s Other Common Side Effects
There are many side effects associated with Taxotere in addition to canalicular stenosis, including:
- Hair loss (alopecia)
- Numbness in fingers and toes (peripheral neuropathy)
- Swelling, pain, or redness at the site of injection
- Swelling in the face, hands, or feet
- Nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite
- Constipation, diarrhea
- Changes in fingernails or toenails
- Lack of energy
- Shortness of breath
- Changes in the sense of taste
- Mouth sores
This is only a partial list of possible side effects of taking Taxotere. However, most of these symptoms will go away when your chemotherapy treatment ends. It’s important to know that the symptoms of watery eyes may continue well after chemotherapy treatment and, if left untreated, may progress into an advanced canalicular stenosis disorder.
Why You Need a Lawyer
A good attorney is essential to bringing your medical liability case to court. Wyoming product liability law is complex, and your lawyer can be sure that all the necessary filings are made, medical records and scientific research is organized, and that all the details important to your situation are in order so that you have the best possible case for compensation.
The makers of Taxotere have no interest in harming their bottom line, and their lawyers will use every legal opportunity available to them to get out of paying what they owe. Your lawyer can answer all your questions related to the case, and negotiate skillfully and aggressively with the pharmaceutical company and insurance company representatives, so that you can focus on your recovery from your illness.
Why You Should Hire Hotze Runkle PLLC
The pharmaceutical liability lawyers at Hotze Runkle PLLC know Wyoming medical law and how it applies to the Taxotere lawsuit. Our case is backed up by scientific evidence and expert opinion that Sanofi-Aventis was negligent in their marketing of this drug. When you hire Hotze Runkle PLLC, you’re bringing on a team of advocates who will fight relentlessly through this case to make sure you have the best possible resolution, so that you can move forward with your life.
The top-notch medical liability attorneys at Hotze Runkle PLLC have many years of experience holding big companies accountable for their attempts to profit from the misfortunes of vulnerable patients. We have collected hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for clients going through the same ordeal that you’re facing today.
Taxotere and Canalicular Stenosis: Scientific Findings
Scientists have warned of the links between Taxotere and canalicular stenosis for nearly two decades. In one early study, Dr. Bita Esmaeli concluded: “This side effect, in advanced cases, is not reversible with discontinuation of the drug. Patients being administered weekly cycles of docetaxel should be screened for epiphora and canalicular stenosis . . . to prevent the need for conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy.”
In other words, the side effect caused by Taxotere, which produces watery eyes, is not reversible if the condition is not caught and treated quickly. Even if a patient stops using the drug, the damage is irreversible if it is allowed to go unchecked. If you are taking Taxotere, your doctor should monitor you for signs of this side effect to avoid advanced damage and costly surgery.
From the same study, the researchers noted:
“It is crucial that ophthalmologists and oncologists be aware of canalicular stenosis as a relatively common side effect of weekly docetaxel. Timely diagnosis of this side effect and timely insertion of bicanalicular silicone stents can prevent permanent and complete closure of the canaliculi. We recommend referral to an ophthalmologist (ideally an oculoplastic surgeon) at the earliest possible time after initiation of weekly docetaxel and at frequent intervals . . . as soon as symptoms of epiphora are noted.”
They recognized early on that canalicular stenosis could affect many users of Taxotere and that the damage could be prevented if patients were monitored closely for symptoms of watery eyes.
Corrective Surgery For Watery Eyes Syndrome
In order to correct the damage done by Taxotere to the lacrimal channels, doctors perform a surgery known as dacryocystorhinostomy, or DCR. In DCR, the surgeon cuts into the skin beneath the eye near the nose to access the bone underneath. There they make a small opening to create a new passageway through which lacrimal fluid can flow into the nasal cavity, bypassing the blocked channel.
As with many types of surgery, DCR can be dangerous. There is a risk of infection and excessive blood loss. DCR can also result in facial scarring or damage to the optic nerve in some cases.
Sanofi, the Company Behind Taxotere
Sanofi-Aventis is a French pharmaceutical corporation headquartered in Paris that was founded in 1973. They’ve manufactured Taxotere since 1998. Nevertheless, it was 2014 before Sanofi-Aventis admitted many of the health risks to patients taking the medication.
There are thousands of lawsuits pending against the company for their negligent behavior. In 2017, Sanofi-Aventis tried to dismiss all counts, but the motion was denied. If doctors had known about the dangers Taxotere posed to patients’ tear ducts, they would have known to monitor their patients for these symptoms and many people would have been spared physical distress and painful surgery.
What Kind of Compensation Could I Receive from a Taxotere Lawsuit?
A successful lawsuit for the harm done by Taxotere to your health could compensate you for medical and surgical costs, future medical expenses, as well as pain and suffering and time lost from work due to your injuries. The exact nature of the compensation you can expect may vary depending on your situation and the severity of your canalicular stenosis, but an attorney will work closely with you to explore all avenues of compensation.
Take the Taxotere Watery Eyes Quiz to See if You Qualify for the Lawsuit
If you’ve been on a regimen of Taxotere, no matter how often it was administered, and you have watery eyes, speak with your doctor immediately about the dangers of this drug and about your medical treatment options. If Taxotere has done damage to your eyes, you may need surgery.
The makers of this faulty drug deserve to shoulder the cost of any harm they’ve caused to your health and quality of life. Hotze Runkle PLLC can make sure they are held to account. Take our Taxotere quiz today, and learn how our attorneys can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.