Suboxone Lawsuits Summary
- Opioid use disorder drug Suboxone sublingual film has been reported to cause serious dental and oral issues, including tooth decay and tooth loss.
- Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits continue to be filed as more patients learn their dental injuries may have been caused by the drug.
- A dangerous products attorney can help individuals who experienced dental issues after using Suboxone sublingual film get compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Why Hire CSS for Your Suboxone Lawsuit
Many patients who used Suboxone sublingual film to treat opioid use disorder have reported fractured teeth, tooth decay, cavities, erosion, and other dental and oral health problems, some of which are permanent. However, patients weren’t warned of these risks, and our firm is actively representing victims who have suffered various dental issues after taking the drug.
Dental injuries that were allegedly caused by Suboxone sublingual film are serious, and victims have suffered significant pain and mental and emotional anguish. Some have had to undergo costly treatments and procedures. Compensation for these types of damages and losses may be sought in a product liability lawsuit against Indivior, Reckitt Benckiser, and other companies involved in the production and sale of Suboxone sublingual film. But these cases are complex and require the help of an experienced product liability attorney who’s unafraid to take on pharmaceutical companies.
At Childers, Schlueter & Smith (CSS), our dangerous drug lawyers are working on Suboxone dental decay lawsuits to ensure our clients are fairly compensated, and CSS partner C. Andrew Childers has been appointed by the Court to serve as a member of the Plaintiff’s Executive Committee for the Suboxone Multidistrict Litigation (MDL). Our firm has handled many product liability cases involving medications that cause personal injuries and other types of damages. It’s this experience, combined with our passion for justice and proven success in the courtroom and at the negotiating table that will get the best results for your Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit. If you used Suboxone sublingual film and experienced dental problems, contact us for a free consultation.
Current Suboxone Lawsuits
In a little over a decade, opioid overdoses and deaths have drastically risen. In 2021, there were 80,411 reported opioid deaths, compared to 21,089 in 2010. The catastrophic impact of the opioid crisis is felt throughout the country, and there are few signs of it slowing. This is why treatment strategies that include medications like Suboxone are so important; buprenorphine drugs have an integral role in addressing the U.S. opioid crisis.
However, many patients who depended on these medications have experienced severe dental and oral problems – problems the manufacturers did not warn patients about. After using Suboxone sublingual film, many patients have required costly and extensive dental work, including tooth extractions and root canals.
The more than 100 Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits filed as of January 2024 allege that Indivior, Reckitt Benckiser, and other companies knew or should have known of the risks to patients’ dental health, and that they failed to warn of the risks. While the Suboxone medication guide lists several possible side effects, tooth decay, erosion, cracks, cavities, and other dental injuries are not noted. Rather, the guide simply says to report problems with your teeth to your healthcare provider and to see a dentist.
In February 2024, several Suboxone cases were consolidated into Multidistrict Litigation (MDL). While not a class action, the move to MDL makes pretrial proceedings more efficient and the outcomes of product liability claims like these more consistent. Many more Suboxone dental decay lawsuits are expected, most of which are likely to become part of the MDL.
Plaintiffs are seeking compensation for medical bills from costly dental treatments and procedures, as well as mental anguish and other damages. So far, no Suboxone settlements have been reached with any plaintiffs.
The attorneys at CSS are representing victims harmed in ways that Indivior and Reckitt Benckiser failed to adequately warn them of. While the outcome of Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits is yet to be determined, our experienced dangerous product attorneys are confident in the strength of these cases. Anyone who has experienced dental issues after using Suboxone sublingual film should contact our firm for a free case consultation. We’re still accepting new clients and are here to protect your rights and fight on your behalf to get the compensation you deserve.
FDA Suboxone Warnings and Approval
Suboxone, a buprenorphine-naloxone medication used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD), has been on the market for more than two decades. The tablet form was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002, with Suboxone sublingual film later approved in 2010.
More recently, in January 2022, the FDA issued a safety communication after receiving over 300 reports of adverse dental health effects from patients using dissolving buprenorphine products. Even patients with no history of dental problems have reported side effects like cavities, tooth decay, tooth loss, and other serious oral issues.
While the FDA wants patients and doctors to be aware of these risks, they stressed that buprenorphine medications used to treat OUD are important and that the benefits “clearly outweigh the risks.” The FDA noted that new warnings about the risk of dental problems from dissolving buprenorphine in the mouth must be added to patient medication guides and prescribing information.
The attorneys at CSS are here to help with your Suboxone lawsuit. We have the resources and legal expertise to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for mistakes they make that cause harm to patients, whether intentional or not. Based on our firm’s investigation and details of the Suboxone cases our lawyers are currently handling, we believe these product liability lawsuits are solid – that Indivior, Reckitt Benckiser, and others knew or should have known of the oral health risks but failed in their duty to warn patients.
Past Suboxone Lawsuits
There are over 100 Suboxone lawsuits filed, but these legal troubles are not the first that Indivior and its former parent company, Reckitt Benckiser, have faced. Since 2019, these companies, along with others involved in the design, manufacture, marketing, distribution, and/or sale of Suboxone, have resolved several criminal and civil liability lawsuits amounting to more than $2.5 billion.
In 2019, Suboxone lawsuits filed by the Department of Justice resulted in a guilty plea by Indivior for false marketing claims. The resolution of these cases included a $700 million settlement with the federal government, forfeiture of nearly $650 million in proceeds, and an administrative settlement with the Federal Trade Commission worth $60 million.
The next year, another $600 million resolution with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia was reached, with both Indivior and a subsidiary to pay $300 million each. Just a few years later, class action Suboxone lawsuits brought by several states, health plans, and buyers of the drug settled for over $500 million.
Criminal and civil lawsuits against Indivior, Reckitt Benckiser, and subsidiaries, from false marketing and illegal suppression of the competition to the unlawful sales and promotion of Suboxone, have been costly for the companies to resolve. Now, as Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits are filed and with more expected on the horizon, the drug manufacturer’s legal troubles are set to continue.
About Opioid Use Disorder
Opioids are highly addictive, even when used as prescribed. Sadly, opioid use disorder is common throughout the U.S., as the nation faces a crisis that has taken the lives of more than 800,000 Americans in just 20 years.
Signs of opioid use disorder include risky, frequent, heavy, or unhealthy use of opioids, cravings, and withdrawal symptoms when stopped. Other signs and symptoms of OUD may occur over time, such as weight loss, flu-like symptoms, and social isolation.
If you or someone you love is addicted to opioids, or think they may be, there is help available. The national helpline can be reached at 1-800-662-4357, and you can search online to find opioid treatment programs close to you.
Contact Our Product Liability Lawyers
Drug manufacturers have a duty to provide safe and effective products, and to warn patients of all possible side effects. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen, and sometimes, people are seriously harmed as a result.
Filing a Suboxone lawsuit can hold those responsible for your injuries accountable and get you the compensation you deserve. It’s important to discuss your situation with an attorney as soon as possible to avoid missing the chance to file a claim. Our dangerous product attorneys are here to help. Contact us online or at 1-800-641-0098 for a free consultation.
Suboxone Lawsuits FAQs
What is Suboxone?
Used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD), Suboxone is an antagonist opioid medication that’s prescribed as one part of a comprehensive treatment plan. It decreases withdrawal symptoms and dependence and is effective at reducing cravings because it doesn’t produce the highs and lows that other opioids do.
What are Suboxone lawsuits about?
Suboxone lawsuits are being filed because many patients who took the sublingual film form of the medication have suffered serious dental problems. Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits allege the manufacturer, Indivior, its former parent company, Reckitt Benckiser, and others involved in the production and sale of the drug failed to warn doctors and patients of the risks to dental health, and that the companies knew or should have known of these risks.
Is there a Suboxone class action lawsuit?
No, not for dental decay. However, in February 2024, several Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits were consolidated into Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) because of the similarities of the cases filed. There were previous criminal and civil lawsuits involving Suboxone, some of which became class actions, but not the current product liability cases.
How many people have filed Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits?
So far, over 100 Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits have been filed. Many more of these dangerous product lawsuits are expected, which will likely become part of the MDL.
Do I need a lawyer if Suboxone caused me harm?
If you experienced dental and/or oral problems after taking Suboxone sublingual film, your best chance at recovering fair compensation is to hire a dangerous drug product liability lawyer. An attorney can protect your rights, provide invaluable legal guidance, negotiate a Suboxone settlement, and take your case to trial if necessary to ensure you’re properly compensated.
Is there a deadline to file a Suboxone dental decay lawsuit?
Every state has a statute of limitations for civil lawsuits such as product liability cases. This is why it’s important to speak with a product liability lawyer as soon as possible to determine whether you’re eligible to file a Suboxone dental decay lawsuit and ensure it’s filed on time.
