About Suboxone Lawsuits
The Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit involves cases against the pharmaceutical company behind the opioid addiction treatment, Suboxone. Claimants allege that the medication causes severe dental issues, including tooth decay, cavities, and even tooth loss.
Suboxone, which contains two main ingredients, buprenorphine, and naloxone, has been widely prescribed to help individuals overcome opioid dependence and decrease the severity of withdrawal symptoms. However, many users have reported unexpected and severe oral health problems after long-term use of the drug.
Indivior, the maker of Suboxone, originally manufactured this drug as a tablet. However, they developed Suboxone film in 2010 to compete with the generic version of the drug. Up until 2021, a multitude of cases related to declining oral health were reportedly associated with using Suboxone film, indicating defendants’ awareness of the dental health issues.
The plaintiffs in these lawsuits argue that the drug manufacturers failed to adequately warn patients and healthcare providers about the potential risks of tooth decay and other dental issues associated with Suboxone use. The lawsuits claim that patients could have taken preventive measures or explored alternative treatment options if Indivior had adequately communicated the risks.
In response, the drug manufacturers have maintained that they provided all necessary warnings and instructions regarding the drug’s use, including advising patients to rinse their mouths after taking Suboxone to mitigate dental risks. Indivior had a legal obligation to inform customers of the risks associated with the sublingual film version of this drug.
However, because the company didn’t explicitly warn users about the risk of tooth decay, Indivior breached its duty of care and could be liable for the damages that users incurred. As the lawsuits continue to develop, patients affected by these dental issues are seeking compensation for medical bills, dental treatments, and pain and suffering.
In January of 2022, the FDA required Indivior to include a warning of tooth decay caused by this drug. However, this was too little, too late, as the drug had been on the market for almost 20 years without a tooth decay warning for consumers.
This case raises important questions about the responsibility of pharmaceutical companies to fully disclose side effects, especially when the drug in question is used as a long-term treatment for addiction recovery.
How is Suboxone Linked to Dental Health Issues?
Victims who used Suboxone sublingual film to treat opioid dependence are facing significant dental deterioration, tooth and gum injuries, and, in some cases, tooth loss.
A 2012 study by Harvard Medical School highlighted a case where a patient on long-term Suboxone treatment suffered rapid dental deterioration. Researchers suggested that the medication's sublingual delivery and low pH (3.4) may contribute to these dental health problems in patients.
Plaintiffs in the Suboxone lawsuit argue that manufacturers had enough evidence to be aware of the risks but failed to provide adequate warnings, favoring profits over patient safety.
Add Comment