The Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit is significantly gaining traction. As many as 51 Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits were filed as of February 2024 in the Northern District of Ohio multidistrict litigation.
In recent times, there has been a significant increase in people claiming to have suffered dental issues after taking Suboxone sublingual film to treat their opioid addictions.
If you or a loved one has experienced these side effects from Suboxone, there's a possibility that you can take legal action. Depending on your state's statute of limitations in the Suboxone lawsuit, you may be eligible to file a Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit.
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What Is the Suboxone Lawsuit About?
Suboxone is a specific sublingual treatment for opioid addiction and withdrawal. It contains buprenorphine, as an active ingredient, an acidic substance responsible for easing withdrawal in patients. When administered (a thin strip of film placed under the tongue), it dissolves and is then absorbed by the body.
A potential link was observed between the sublingual film version of Suboxone use and dental issues when using this product. Many individuals, after using Suboxone, have reported experiencing tooth decay. This has led to a number of lawsuits claiming that this opioid disorder drug can cause serious dental problems, ranging from tooth decay, oral infections, cavities, and tooth loss.
Plaintiffs argue that its manufacturer, Indivior, failed to warn about the risks clearly and is seeking compensation.
Developments of Suboxone Lawsuit
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Suboxone in 2002 for treating opioid addiction. Initially, it was available only in tablet form. Subsequently, the manufacturer introduced Suboxone film, designed to dissolve beneath the tongue, making it easier to use.
In January 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Suboxone for the treatment of opioid addiction. Initially, this drug was available in tablet form before the manufacturer introduced the film version. This was aimed at making the drug easier to use. Together with the approval, the FDA submitted a public warning about dental problems associated with the drug.
This report stated that some individuals have experienced oral problems using the drug. This dates as far back as 2017. This was seen both in people who have never had dental problems in the past and who have great dental hygiene.
As a result, the FDA requested that the manufacturer provide this warning in the prescribing information and the patient Medication Guide. Only then did the manufacturers also provide a warning on their label about tooth decay side effects on their medications.
Because of this failure to warn about Suboxone side effects before 2022, the manufacturers are facing countless lawsuits from individuals claiming dental problems.
Allegations Against Indivior in Suboxone Tooth Decay Lawsuit
All over the United States of America, the victims of the side effects of Suboxone and their legal team (known as plaintiffs) claim that Indivior, the maker of Suboxone, knew about the medication’s potential for causing tooth decay and other dental problems and failed to take adequate steps to warn users about this risk or to prevent it from becoming a problem.
A lot of these victims have filed product liability lawsuits against Suboxone manufacturers, Indivior. As of December 2023, 100 Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits have been filed with Indivior. More people are gradually coming forward with their claims and lawsuits.
After much convincing by attorneys, the Suboxone lawsuit is being consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the United States
District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. This means multiple lawsuits with common factual issues are consolidated into one federal court, before a single judge, thereby streamlining the legal process and improving efficiency. Speak with an attorney to know whether you are eligible to file a lawsuit. They can guide you through the lawsuit process.
