Suboxone, a medication used to combat opioid addiction, has been in the limelight for quite some time now. The reason for this is that it causes several oral health complications for its users. Unfortunately, a lot of people have fallen victim to this, but according to Dolman Law Group’s product liability attorney, these victims can file a lawsuit and seek compensation.
Here, we will take a closer look at the suboxone tooth decay lawsuit. Highlighting those eligible to file one and the potential damages you can get from it.
What is Suboxone?
Suboxone is a medicine mainly used for treating opioid addiction. For years, doctors have relied on this medication to wean people off opioids.
This medicine comes in tablet and sublingual film forms. It is often part of a more holistic treatment program that includes therapy and counseling. There have been several success stories about suboxone, as it has helped a lot of people overcome their addictions.
Unfortunately, this medication isn’t without side effects and risks. Some common side effects of suboxone are sleep disturbances, sweating, constipation, headaches, and nausea. However, all of these are manageable when compared to the dental issues this medication poses for its users.
Suboxone and Dental Issues
Potential dental conditions suboxone users may experience include:
- Tooth decay
- Dental caries (dentine, enamel loss, and so on)
- Crown replacement
- Cracked teeth
- Tooth loss
- Cavities
- Infections
- Root canal
Suboxone Tooth Decay Lawsuit
With the many potential dental damages this medication can cause, you’d assume there’d be a warning, right? Wrong. Suboxone warns about the other manageable side effects we mentioned earlier but says nothing about what it may do to users’ teeth; that was until 2022, though.
In 2022, a study finally confirmed what most people have been speculating about for a while: suboxone can cause dental issues. In this same year, a dental issue warning was officially issued by Indivior, Inc. (the primary manufacturer of Suboxone).
However, the entire Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit’s core is the lack of warning to users. Hence, anyone taking this medicine after 2022 can’t file for damages, as it’s assumed they know about the dental risks it poses.
But anyone who used it before 2022 can still file a lawsuit and get duly compensated. The lawyer’s argument in such a case would be that the victim has zero knowledge about the dental risks attached to taking the medication.
What are the Damages You Can Seek?
When filing a Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit, you can seek two primary damages. Let’s take a look at them below.
Compensatory Damage: This is compensation you receive because you suffered an injury caused by another party. If you have suffered any of the injuries this medication can cause, like tooth loss, decay, fracture, and so on, you can file for personal injury damages.
Punitive Damage: Punitive damage is otherwise called exemplary damage. This is often awarded to individuals, along with compensatory damages. These are awarded as a form of punishment to the defendant for outrageous conduct.
Indivior’s failure to put out a dental issue warning can be considered outrageous conduct. It can be seen as the company putting profit ahead of their customers. Therefore, a victim of their negligence or misconduct can file for and get punitive damages.
Also read: Understanding the Basics of Orthodontic Care: A Comprehensive Guide
Conclusion
Suboxone, though an effective medication for opioid addiction, can cause severe dental conditions. If you are a victim of this and you used the medicine before 2022 (when a warning was officially released), you can file a lawsuit and get compensated. However, you can’t do this by yourself. To make the most of the situation, consider hiring a reliable attorney who will ensure your eligibility and file the case.
