The opioid crisis dates back to the 1990s. The crisis was triggered to a huge extent by OxyContin, which was manufactured by Purdue Pharma and sanctioned by the FDA. Now that it’s in the third decade, it’s carrying on well with fentanyl and heroin fanning the flames.
It’s sad to know that over 2.4 million Americans are struggling with OUD (opioid use disorder). They are searching for effective treatments that ensure favorable outcomes for the health condition. The outcomes thus far have been challenging. There’s a drug that has added to this challenge and is garnering an ample amount of criticism for its side effects, which made people file lawsuits as well.
The medicine is Suboxone, and the lawsuits state that the manufacturer Indivior had failed to warn patients about the fatal side effects of this drug. These include severe dental issues, oral infections, tooth loss, and decay.
In this article, we will discuss the dangers and side effects of Suboxone that you must know to avoid its use and how to claim legal compensation once affected by it.
Sylvester Suffered from Permanent Tooth Damage
In February 2024, reported on K. Sylvester from Ohio and his suffering after using this medicine. In his Suboxone lawsuit, he states that after using this medicine he had to deal with permanent tooth damage that required ample dental work which otherwise could have been averted if the manufacturing brand added a warning label to the medication.
The lawsuit alleged the medicine manufacturing brand’s wrong conduct in the design, development, labeling, testing, and even packaging of the film strips. There were issues with how the drug was marketed as well.
Sylvester states that he was prescribed by the doctor to use Suboxone to treat opioid addiction. During relevant periods, he and his physicians didn’t receive any warning about the medication. Also, they had no idea about the severe dental erosion and decay risk because of using Suboxone that was to follow.
In his lawsuit, Sylvester mentioned that had the medical community been aware of the side effects of the drug, they would have stopped prescribing it. That way, doctors would have been aware of the potential health hazards of the medicine. Naturally, that would have prevented people like him and others from developing acute dental issues and other side-effects which resulted in costly treatments to heal it.
The Side Effects of Suboxone
Adverse effects of Suboxone include nausea, constipation, and headache. Some people often count on this medicine for the relaxation it brings in, which can also result in drug relapse.
Other common side effects are:
- Numb mouth
- Sweating
- Painful tongue
- Fainting and dizziness
- Irregular heartbeat
- Problems in focusing
- Blurry vision
- Insomnia
- Drowsiness
- Back pain
Since Suboxone is considered a partial opioid agonist, it can result in respiratory depression. This is a condition where the breathing becomes highly slow or shallow, thereby reducing the oxygen flow in the body. It is one of the severe side effects of this medicine. According to Drugs.com, this side-effect is visible in 1 to 10% of patients using this medicine.
If you come across these side effects, it is necessary to seek medical intervention and get the necessary treatment to reduce the challenges. Once that is done, it is crucial to seek legal compensation for all your pain and suffering.
Navigating the Legal Path
Going by the Suboxone lawsuit update of April 2024, 44 cases are pending at the MDL. No court-sanctioned settlements have been declared publicly for these cases linked with dental issues. Before people filed their Suboxone lawsuits for dental decays, Reckitt Benckiser and Indivior witnessed an antitrust class action lawsuit that led to limited competition for overpaying for the drug.
Between the years, 2019 and 2020, the FTC had attained settlements that totalled $60 million. The consumers had received their initial payments back in May 2021 and other class members got their payments back in April 2023.
Hence, if you or anyone you know have suffered dental issues after using Suboxone you should file a lawsuit and seek the compensation that you deserve. TorHoerman Law states that it is necessary to get in touch with a lawyer for this, as they will determine your eligibility. Once that gets done, the lawyer will ask for valid and crucial evidence to incorporate into the case so that they can get the maximum settlement payout for you.
In conclusion, it is indeed disheartening to develop a health issue when you want to get relief from another health condition you are suffering from. Suboxone received a bad name because of the dental issues that it led to after people used it to treat their OUD. People must know about the side effects of the medicine and file a lawsuit if they have suffered from it and alert others.
