Were you or a loved one prescribed the drug Taxotere as part of chemotherapy treatment? Have you experienced severe side effects, like unexplained watery eyes and tears running down your face? If so, this could be a sign of a condition called epiphora, or a much more serious condition called canalicular stenosis. If this happened to you or someone close to you, the Delaware defective drug attorneys of Hotze Runkle PLLC would be ready to help you hold the drug manufacturer, Sanofi-Aventis, accountable for the harm you’ve suffered.
Despite the fact that a connection between the drug Docetaxel (Taxotere) and severe side effects like canalicular stenosis was discovered, the drug’s manufacturer failed to warn doctors and patients of the potential dangers. When pharmaceutical companies put the pursuit of profits over the health and wellness of consumers, they can and should pay for their actions.
That’s where we come in. If you’ve had cancer and developed watery eyes or uncontrollable tears after chemotherapy, take this quiz to find out if you qualify for compensation.
What is Epiphora and Canalicular Stenosis?
Many patients are at risk of developing symptoms while using Taxotere, especially with frequent treatment. Epiphora is a high-risk side-effect in 50% of patients who use or have used Taxotere weekly for chemotherapy.
Though the risk decreases if you don’t take Taxotere as often, epiphora is still a common side effect. Of patients who were treated with Taxotere once every three weeks, 18% developed epiphora symptoms.
Taxotere is a chemotherapy drug that’s primarily used to treat metastatic breast cancer. However, despite what the patient was treated for, the risk of epiphora and canalicular stenosis remains the same.
In short, epiphora and canalicular stenosis symptoms are possible in:
- 50% of patients who use or have used Taxotere weekly
- 18% of patients who use or have used Taxotere every three weeks
- Patients being treated for any sort of cancer, not just breast cancer
Canalicular stenosis can have a significant impact on your quality of life. While you are dealing with cancer treatments and chemotherapy, suffering from canalicular stenosis can require additional surgery to repair. This often adds to the discomfort, stress, and emotional suffering that you’re already experiencing. If you’ve developed canalicular stenosis due to the use of Taxotere, you might be eligible to seek full and fair compensation from the drug’s manufacturer.
Symptoms of Canalicular Stenosis
Symptoms of epiphora or canalicular stenosis are entirely preventable if your doctor is aware of the side-effects. However, the effects of canalicular stenosis cannot be reversed once the symptoms present themselves, even after discontinuing treatment.
Symptoms of canalicular stenosis include:
- Epiphora or uncontrollable tearing
- Eye-watering
- Dry eyes
- Blurring, cloudy vision
- Eyelids and areas around the eyes swelling
- Light sensitivity and/or headaches
- Irritation and/or infection in the eye
- Loss of sight due to cystoid macular edema
Canalicular stenosis is a permanent condition that can only be repaired with an expensive, highly invasive surgery. The main procedure to prevent these symptoms, however, is non-invasive, involving temporary stents in the tear ducts. You can even continue treatment with Taxotere after this procedure is completed.
An even less invasive procedure could prevent canalicular stenosis symptoms from occurring altogether. Frequent irrigation of the tear ducts done in the office and use of topical steroids eliminates the need for other preventative procedures in 50% to 80% of patients.
This is one of the reasons why people who’ve developed canalicular stenosis have a right to hold Sanofi-Aventis accountable. If the drugmaker had been open and forthcoming about these side effects, doctors and patients alike would have been able to take preventive measures to avoid the serious eye issues the drug caused.
Because Sanofi-Aventis did not disclose these side effects, even after becoming aware of them, the company can and should be
Can Canalicular Stenosis Be Treated?
Canalicular stenosis is permanent even after discontinuing Taxotere treatment. The only way to correct the condition is with surgery.
While the preventive surgery included the insertion of temporary silicone stents into the tear ducts, severe canalicular stenosis treatment is done with pyrex glass tubes instead of silicone. Many patients have immediate relief of epiphora symptoms after surgery, but the operation and symptoms all could have easily been prevented.
The surgery to correct canalicular stenosis is dangerous as well as expensive. Potential hazards include:
- Facial scarring
- Hemorrhaging during and after surgery
- Infection
- The glass tube migrating inside the body
- The glass tube also becoming blocked
- The body rejecting the glass tube
- More damage leading to blindness
- The procedure not fixing the canalicular stenosis at all
Ultimately, this condition could have been avoided if the pharmaceutical company had acted in good faith. Because the company failed to do so, patients have the right to demand fair compensation for:
- Additional, corrective surgery
- Medical treatment associated with the condition
- Travel for treatment
- Loss of wages
- Loss of future earnings (if unable to work)
- Pain, suffering, and emotional anguish
An experienced defective pharmaceutical attorney could help you get the full and fair compensation you’re owed. Time is limited to take action, so don’t wait until it is too late to get what you’re owed.
Who Is Eligible to File a Claim?
It doesn’t matter how often you took Taxotere or what the drug was treating. Many who developed canalicular stenosis were being treated for breast cancer and were taking Taxotere or Docetaxel once a week, but this is not the situation for everyone affected.
You could be eligible for a claim if:
- You took Taxotere weekly, monthly, or at any other rate
- You took Taxotere for any kind of treatment, not just for breast cancer
- You first experienced symptoms during or after your treatment regimen
- You were taking the generic version of Taxotere, Docetaxel
It doesn’t matter when you began to develop symptoms of epiphora or canalicular stenosis. Some patients only suffered from tearing after treatment when their Taxotere regimen was completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Delaware canalicular stenosis attorneys of Hotze Runkle PLLC want to keep you as informed as possible. Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Taxotere and severe eye side effects.
How do I know if my watery eye condition qualifies?
If you are taking or have taken Taxotere for chemotherapy and experienced watery eyes, you have a case. Take this quiz for a free evaluation to get started on filing a claim.
Why does taking Taxotere cause watery eyes?
Humans produce tears consistently, keeping our eyes moist every time we blink. The drug Taxotere secretes into those tears and causes scarring within the tear ducts, resulting in more tears being produced. The excess of tears appears as watery eyes and uncontrollable tearing.
With prolonged exposure to Taxotere, the tear ducts scarring could build and create a blockage, resulting in canalicular stenosis.
Why didn’t my doctor know about Taxotere’s side effects?
Sanofi, the manufacturer of Taxotere, did not give adequate warnings about the possible side-effects. Doctors and physicians gather their information about the drugs they prescribe from the manufacturers. These doctors strive to provide the best medical care possible and do not intend to cause harm or keep you in the dark about such crucial information.
Sanofi’s lying and misinformation has kept doctors and you from knowing about these harmful side-effects. This breach of trust between manufacturer and physician is a very serious matter for you and your doctor.
Could the drug manufacturer have done anything to protect me?
Absolutely. When the connection between Taxotere and canalicular stenosis was found nearly 20 years ago, the preventive procedure was created so that they could continue chemotherapy without the harmful side-effects.
Despite these preventative measures in place and possible, Sanofi has continued to lie about the harm that Taxotere can cause.
Can I hold the manufacturer responsible?
Yes. Sanofi created Taxotere and is responsible for the development, research, and manufacturing of its product. Taxotere was approved for treatment in 1996. Further medical research discovered the connection between Taxotere and canalicular stenosis in 2000.
Since the discovery of the connection, many studies have been performed and verified the information. Despite 20 years’ worth of evidence and research, Sanofi still refuses to warn doctors and the public about this possible side-effect as they continue to ignore the connection.
We believe that Sanofi will not change its practices until they are forced to do so by the patients who suffered due to the company’s actions.
What should I know about filing a Taxotere injury claim?
A Taxotere lawsuit is not a medical malpractice claim. No doctors or physicians unaffiliated with Sanofi will be held accountable in this action.
This lawsuit also does not cover other cases against Sanofi, including the on-going trial about Taxotere’s connection to permanent hair loss.
The lawsuit in question is only against Sanofi for failing to warn patients and doctors about the permanent, irreparable damage that Taxotere causes to the eyes.
Take the Quiz
Have you or a loved one experienced watery eyes during or after Taxotere treatment? Were you diagnosed with epiphora or canalicular stenosis as a result of taking Taxotere? If so, you may be entitled to significant compensation.
All pharmaceutical companies have a moral and legal duty to fully inform doctors and patients about the risks of taking their drugs. Sanofi has continuously ignored, misled, and lied about Taxotere’s severe side-effects to the public despite overwhelming medical evidence. No one should go through such horrible side-effects simply because they weren’t informed, especially those who have already defeated cancer.
You have a right to seek justice for your situation. If you’ve taken Taxotere and developed watery eyes at any point, take this quiz for a free case evaluation. We’re standing by to ensure you get the compensation and respect you deserve.