Suboxone Tooth Decay Lawsuits
Suboxone is a brand-name medication containing buprenorphine and naloxone. It is used to treat opioid use disorder. Because of its effectiveness in reducing opioid cravings, it has been one of the most popular medications for addiction treatment since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved it in 2002.
However, this sublingual medication can have alarming dental-related side effects. Recent Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits allege the drug’s manufacturer, Indivior, was aware of the problems and failed to warn prescribers and patients.
Individuals suffering from dental issues after using Suboxone are filing lawsuits against the drug’s manufacturers. Dozens of lawsuits are currently pending in multidistrict litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
Background of Suboxone Tooth Decay Lawsuits
Suboxone is a prescription medication used to help people addicted to morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and other opioids. It is administered sublingually, meaning patients place a thin medication strip under their tongue where it dissolves.
Patients prescribed Suboxone receive notification of a long list of side effects, including potential dependency and respiratory problems. However, tooth decay and dental issues remained unlisted until 2022, when the FDA finally issued a warning about these problems.
The primary defendants in the Suboxone lawsuits are Indivior Inc. and Aquestive Therapeutics Inc., the pharmaceutical companies that developed the drug. Indivior is also the primary manufacturer of Suboxone. Additionally named in the lawsuits is Reckitt Benckiser, a prominent UK-based pharmaceutical company. Until recently, Indivior was a division of Reckitt.
Plaintiff David Sorensen filed the first Suboxone lawsuit against Indivior and Reckitt Benckiser on Sept 25, 2023. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, alleges dental injuries related to Suboxone use.
Indivior recently paid $102 million to settle a case filed by several dozen state attorney generals alleging the company funneled patients to specific doctors who prescribed its drugs. There also are ongoing lawsuits alleging that Suboxone manufacturers tried blocking generic versions of the drug through illegal kickback schemes. These cases could have an impact on future litigation involving these drug makers.
Why Are People Filing Suboxone Lawsuits?
Studies have shown that Suboxone sublingual films may contribute to tooth decay and other dental issues because of the medication’s acidic nature. Prolonged exposure to Suboxone can weaken tooth enamel and cause dental problems such as gum disease, cavities, tooth decay, and even tooth loss. These issues can be painful and require costly dental procedures, including extractions, fillings, and implants.
Numerous studies examined the relationship between the drug’s ingredients and dental issues. A 2013 study published in The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders reported patients treated with buprenorphine experienced tooth decay and other dental side effects. Specifically, more than 90 percent of patients experienced some form of salivary buffering, which relates to tooth decay risk.
A research letter published in the medical journal JAMA in 2022 compared the sublingual form of buprenorphine with other forms of the medication. Researchers found that taking the medication sublingually blocks saliva production, which is necessary to reduce acidity in the mouth and keep teeth clean.
Dental Risks Associated With Suboxone
Anyone who began using Suboxone before 2022 was likely not advised of associated dental risks because the FDA didn’t issue a warning until that year. Some of the dental health problems possibly associated with Suboxone include the following:
- Tooth decay or cavities
- Enamel erosion
- Fillings falling out
- Tooth fracture
- Gum disease
- Dental abscesses
- Gum recession
- Tooth loss
- Bone loss in the jaw
Poor oral health can also cause other adverse health consequences, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory diseases. Treatment for these issues can be costly, with additional damages mounting over time.
Timeline of the Suboxone Litigation
The premise of every Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit is a failure to warn, meaning the drug manufacturer knew there was a link between the drug and dental injuries yet did not adequately warn prescribers and patients. After the initial filing in late 2023, several more followed. By November 1, 2023, an additional 14 Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits had been filed.
After plaintiffs filed multiple lawsuits in various jurisdictions against the same defendant alleging similar injuries, the cases became eligible for classification as mass torts. Here is the up-to-date timeline for the Suboxone litigation:
March 7, 2024 First Suboxone MDL Status Conference Held
The first Suboxone multidistrict litigation status conference occurred on March 7. The various plaintiffs will continue to gather evidence supporting the link between the defendants’ failure to warn and the alleged harm caused by the product. As the discovery process progresses, additional cases may join the MDL.
March 1, 2024 The Newly Created Suboxone MDL Picks Up Steam
By March 1, the new Suboxone MDL had grown to include 51 pending lawsuits. Experts expect this figure to grow significantly over the next several months.
February 5, 2024 JPML Consolidates Suboxone Lawsuits Into MDL
The U.S. Judicial Panel released its decision from the January 25 ruling, agreeing to consolidate the 15 Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits previously filed by individual plaintiffs in various federal courts into an MDL. Judge Phillip Calabrese of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio is presiding over the cases.
December 15, 2023 JPML Announces Hearing Date on Suboxone Class Action
The Joint Panel on Multidistrict Litigation announced a hearing on Jan. 25, 2024, at which the panel heard oral arguments on forming a Suboxone MDL related to tooth decay injuries.
December 6, 2023 Suboxone Lawsuit Defendants Respond to MDL Motion
The defendants in the existing Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits respond to the petition for MDL, indicating they have no objection to bringing the cases together under a single judge.
November 14, 2023 Suboxone Lawsuit Plaintiffs Petition for Multidistrict Litigation
Lawyers for several Suboxone dental lawsuit plaintiffs requested the formation of an MDL. They sought an order to consolidate the pending actions in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio and transfer any future cases to that court.
Contact Case Works Today to Help With Your Suboxone Cases
At Case Works, we can help your law firm manage Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits through our Mass Tort Case Management and Development Services.
When you outsource these services to us, we provide your law firm with a personalized, vigorous case management process that helps your team delegate the various tasks required to keep complex mass tort litigation moving forward.
Because mass tort cases can involve many plaintiffs, law firms may fail to deliver the personalized updates clients need and deserve. This is just one area where the Case Works team is invaluable.
The nation’s largest mass tort law firms put their trust in Case Works. We offer value-added services and provide case updates on active mass torts related to dangerous and defective products, faulty medical equipment, and toxic chemical exposure.
With our innovative Case Ready™ system, we help you manage client onboarding, plaintiff information sheet creation, deadline adherence, file maintenance, and client communications. These services allow your lawyers and legal staff to focus on critical case research, client advocacy, and legal representation.
Contact Case Works today to discuss how we can help you with case management for Suboxone lawsuits.
