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Anti-Opioid Meds Suboxone, Belbuca, Zubsolv Linked to Tooth Decay, Tooth Loss

Suboxone film, a commonly prescribed anti-opioid medications, has been linked to a distressing side effect – tooth decay, tooth extraction and tooth loss injuries. This unexpected connection has led users to consider Suboxone film tooth decay lawsuits as a means of seeking compensation for the harm caused and as a means of paying for expensive dental work to repair the damage and to hold the companies responsible accountable for their actions to help deter such behavior in the future. If you or a loved one has suffered tooth loss, tooth decay, or any other type of tooth damage you believe to be linked to Suboxone film use, contact our experienced attorneys right away to find out if you are eligible to file a Suboxone lawsuit against the manufacturer.

Suboxone, Belbuca, Zubsolv Tooth Decay and Tooth Loss

Suboxone Lawsuit Information

Individuals who have suffered severe tooth decay, tooth loss, or other dental injuries as a result of Suboxone film use may be eligible to pursue legal action against the manufacturers. One of the first lawsuits alleging a link between Suboxone and tooth decay was filed in September 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. The complaint names as defendants Indivior, Inc., Aquestive Therapeutics, MonoSol Rx, Inc., and Reckitt Benckiser LLC, and alleges that the plaintiff, David Sorensen, suffers from permanent tooth decay and has required extensive dental work as a result of his Suboxone use.

Reports have emerged recently suggesting that the manufacturers knew about the potential for Suboxone to cause tooth decay long before the FDA required new label warnings in 2022. As more information comes to light about this issue, additional lawsuits may be brought against the manufacturers, alleging that the drug causes irreversible tooth decay and tooth loss injuries, leading to significant pain, discomfort, and extensive dental treatments. The manufacturers will likely face complaints that they failed to adequately warn patients and healthcare professionals about the potential risks associated with Suboxone use, causing users to suffer avoidable injuries.

Suboxone and Buprenorphine Manufacturers

Several manufacturers are involved in the production and distribution of Suboxone and buprenorphine medications. These companies include:

Indivior, Inc.
Aquestive Therapeutics
MonoSol Rx, Inc.
Reckitt Benckiser LLC
Braeburn Inc.
BioDelivery Sciences and International Inc.
Purdue Pharma LP

“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that dental problems have been reported with medicines containing buprenorphine that are dissolved in the mouth. The dental problems, including tooth decay, cavities, oral infections, and loss of teeth, can be serious and have been reported even in patients with no history of dental issues.”

Suboxone and Buprenorphine Manufacturers

Several manufacturers are involved in the production and distribution of Suboxone and buprenorphine medications. These companies include:

Indivior, Inc.
Aquestive Therapeutics
MonoSol Rx, Inc.
Reckitt Benckiser LLC
Braeburn Inc.
BioDelivery Sciences and International Inc.
Purdue Pharma LP

What is Suboxone?

Suboxone is a prescription medication used to treat opioid addiction by reducing opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms, allowing individuals to recover from addiction. It contains a combination of two drugs: buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist, and naloxone, an opioid antagonist. Buprenorphine works by helping to manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms, while naloxone blocks the effects of opioids, making it less likely for a person to misuse the medication. Suboxone is available in two forms: as a tablet and as a sublingual film applied under the tongue.

It is important to note that Suboxone is not a standalone treatment for opioid addiction. Rather, it is typically prescribed as part of a comprehensive treatment program that includes counseling and behavioral therapy. It is intended to help individuals gradually wean off opioids and achieve long-term recovery. And while Suboxone can be an important part of opioid addiction recovery, it can also cause side effects, one of the most serious potential side effects being dental issues like tooth decay and tooth loss.

How a Suboxone Lawsuit Could Help

A successful Suboxone lawsuit could help affected individuals recover compensation for various damages related to their tooth decay or tooth loss injuries. These damages may include:

Medical and dental expenses
Pain and suffering
Loss of income
Future dental care
Punitive damages

Currently, attorneys are filing claims for individuals who used Suboxone Film prior to January 2022 and suffered:

Tooth loss or tooth extraction of multiple teeth
Do not have a documented history of methamphetamine or heroin use
Prescription and use were not exclusively in the following states: New Jersey, Texas, Michigan, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, & Virginia.
As of February 2024, we are currently filing claims for people who live in states and used/were prescribed Suboxone in states that have a Statute of Limitations of 3 years or more:
- Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wyoming.
We are not accepting claims for states with 2 year Statute of Limitations or less:
- Alabama, Arizona, Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia.

FDA Warning and Label Change

In June of 2022, FDA issued the following warning regarding Suboxone: warning that dental problems have been reported with medicines containing buprenorphine that are dissolved in the mouth. The dental problems, including tooth decay, cavities, oral infections, and loss of teeth, can be serious and have been reported even in patients with no history of dental issues.” See FDA Drug Safety Communication (Jan. 12, 2022) (available at https://www.fda.gov/media/155352/download?attachment)

Suboxone and Tooth Decay Injuries

Recent reports have raised concerns about the link between Suboxone use and tooth decay. The acidic nature of Suboxone, particularly the sublingual films and tablets that dissolve in the mouth, may contribute to dental problems such as tooth decay, tooth loss, infections, and other dental injuries. Patients who have used Suboxone for an extended period have reported experiencing severe dental problems, including cavities, gum disease, and the need for tooth extractions.

In January 2022, the FDA issued a warning highlighting more than 300 cases of tooth decay and dental problems linked to Suboxone and other buprenorphine drugs dissolved in the mouth to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) and pain. These dental problems have been observed in patients as young as 18 years old and in those with no history of dental issues, with some experiencing dental damage just weeks after starting treatment.

In light of these issues, the FDA at that time required a new warning about the risk of dental problems to be added to the prescribing information and the Medication Guide for all buprenorphine-containing medicines dissolved in the mouth.