Opioid addictions don’t have a size or shape. Multiple drugs come under this class. Are you wondering if there’s anything common between these drugs? The answer is all of them are very addictive and it makes the users dependent on them psychologically and physically. When the dependence isn’t catered to, it can lead to extreme withdrawal symptoms. That’s why people find it challenging to come out of an opioid addiction.
If a person is dependent on prescription painkillers or heroin, recovery takes time. And the process is anything but simple. Instead, the recovery process is gradual and includes essential steps. It is necessary to follow a detox phase. During this stage, a person can make use of medicines like Suboxone.
Suboxone is a medication that is prescribed to adults to treat their dependence on opioid medicines, which results in OUD (opioid use disorder). This medicine is available as a film that gets dissolved inside your mouth. You can place it between the cheek, gums, and also beneath your tongue.
However, what was meant to be a boon turned into a bane. Over the past few years, patients who have used Suboxone have reported severe dental health issues and other side effects. As a result, they have filed lawsuits to report the damage and obtain the compensation they deserve. Here, we will discuss this and touch upon the side effects of the medicine other than tooth decay.
The State of Suboxone Lawsuits
In April 2024, AboutLawsuits.com reported that the federal court system had come up with consolidated pretrial proceedings for every Suboxone lawsuit. Even then lawyers anticipate more claims that will get filed within the next two months in 2024. And these might comprise the earlier users who used this medicine and had tooth decay. June 2024 marks the second anniversary that can trigger the statute of limitations on certain claims.
The FDA initially sanctioned the drug in 2002. But the current lawsuits allege that the manufacturing brand had come up with the film version of it almost 10 years back. This automatically has an impact on the dental health issues that didn’t get disclosed well on the initial warning label.
The drug manufacturer stated that Suboxone film was safe and not detrimental to human health. Still, there were investigations done asserting that the alternate version had been introduced to maximize profits. Since the drug manufacturers prioritized their profits instead of user safety, users had already faced ample damages.
Several patients after using Suboxone now suffer from broken teeth and tooth decay and have to face high medical bills along with disfiguring injuries. Keeping this in mind, on June 17th, 2022, the warning had been added to this medicine. It was an outcome of the FDA recognizing over 300 cases of dental health issues reported after using the medicine.
In the last few months, the Suboxone MDL has gone up from 20 to 200 cases. Today, the lawyers suggest that there will be new filings in the next two months. It is mostly because the manufacturer declined tolling agreements that can extend a probable statute of limitation that applies to specific claims.
It is possible for the judge managing this litigation along with the clerks to get overwhelmed with new findings. But the defendants have a chance to decline any of these agreements. However, in the next few months, new cases will be filed by June 2024.
Other Side Effects of Suboxone
Other than dental hazards, using Suboxone can lead to many other side effects that can last for some time. The common ones include:
- Nausea
- Drowsiness
- Headache and Sweating
- Constipation
- Numb Mouth
- Blurry Vision
- Painful tongue
- Back Pain
- Fainting and Dizziness
- Insomnia
- Problems related to focus
- Irregular heartbeat
TruLaw states that if you face any of these problems other than dental health issues after using Suboxone, you need to speak with a lawyer. They will assess the case and let you know if you are eligible to file a lawsuit. After that, they will guide you to collect the required evidence and use it to build a strong case, so that you obtain the compensation without delay and cover all your medical and other expenses.
In conclusion, it is frustrating to take medicine to treat a health condition and develop another problem because of it. Suboxone has been on the news for causing dental health and other problems while treating opioid addiction. Over the years, people who’ve used this medicine have experienced severe tooth decay. If you’ve faced a similar predicament, you need to seek both medical and legal aid.
