Is Suboxone ruining your teeth? We all know that Suboxone is an opioid addiction treatment drug that has helped many people recover from dependence on dangerous narcotics. There is, however, a dark side to Suboxone: thousands of its users have suffered severe dental problems that have claimed their lives, their smiles, and their savings.
Suboxone lawsuits claim the drug’s maker neglected to warn about the oral health risks, leaving patients to deal with the financial and emotional fallout. In this article, you can learn about recovery compensation for extensive dental work, lost income, and more.
Suboxone Drug
Before getting into the specifics of the Suboxone class action lawsuit, it’s important to understand what Suboxone is. Suboxone is a prescribed medication that combines two drugs: buprenorphine and naloxone. In addition, it is designed to alleviate opioid withdrawal symptoms and decrease opioid dependence. Commonly prescribed for addiction treatment, Suboxone gained popularity in the early 2000s as a safer alternative to methadone.
Furthermore, it is believed to have a lower risk of abuse and accidental overdose. Patients are instructed to place Suboxone under their tongue. It dissolves there, usually taking between 15 and 30 minutes to fully dissolve. Originally, Reckitt Benckiser Group (RB Group) created Suboxone. Since 2014, Indivior has manufactured and distributed the drug after becoming a separate entity from RB Group.
Suboxone Lawsuits
Multiple lawsuits regarding Suboxone have been filed. It has been reported that over 100 cases have been filed in various states in federal courts as of November 2023. Discussions for the consolidation of these lawsuits into multidistrict litigation (MDL) occurred in January 2024. Indivior and RB Group faced previous class action lawsuits for antitrust violations, settling for significant amounts in 2019 and 2020.
Criminal and civil charges against them for deceptive marketing were also resolved in 2019. In fact, Indivior paid $600 million, and RB Group agreed to a $2.1 billion settlement. Some patients reported serious dental issues after using Suboxone. These issues led to lawsuits against the manufacturers. The lawsuits allege that the manufacturers failed to warn about dental risks, despite knowing or having reason to know about them.
As a result of research suggesting a link between Suboxone and dental problems, the FDA issued a public warning and revised the drug’s label in 2022. The FDA’s public warning about Suboxone’s acidic nature and potential dental harm was not updated until after the manufacturers updated warnings.
Hence, these lawsuits argue that manufacturers engaged in wrongful and negligent conduct related to Suboxone’s development. They also argue that manufacturers neglected their duties in the design of Suboxone. Likewise, the lawsuits focus on the marketing of Suboxone, particularly regarding tooth decay risks.
Timeline of Suboxone Lawsuits 2024
We have discussed earlier that Suboxone was marketed as a revolutionary treatment for opioid dependence. But users quickly noticed their teeth crumbling—enamel eroding, teeth fracturing, and falling out. Makers knew of these risks yet stayed silent. Their failure to warn has devastated unsuspecting patients.
Following are the details of subsequent Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits in 2024.
May 2024: The MDL court scheduled a virtual and in-person status conference for May 2024. Parties were required to submit documents on protective orders, tolling issues, and procedural motions. A tolling agreement is needed to save time and money. The Suboxone tooth decay class action MDL has tripled in April.
April 2024: A Maryland man filed a new Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit against Indivior. A Georgia woman also filed a similar lawsuit, alleging that Indivior failed to provide her with information about the risk of tooth decay. The lawsuit focuses on scientific evidence, expert testimony, and personalized evidence. The case has seen MonoSol, a defendant in some Suboxone claims, dismissed from the litigation. As of April 1, 2024, the new Suboxone class action MDL has 44 pending cases.
March 2024: The severity of dental injuries for a Suboxone lawsuit is being addressed, with lawyers tightening their criteria to include at least one tooth extraction or similar injury. The MDL judge issued CMO #3, allowing plaintiffs’ lawyers to file directly into the central MDL court. Defendants filed their corporate disclosures in the MDL, and the Suboxone lawsuit initial status conference was held. As of March 5, there are 51 pending cases in the Suboxone tooth decay MDL. Subsequently, various cases were expected to increase substantially over the next few months.
February 2024: A new Suboxone lawsuit has been filed in the Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) for dental damage caused by the medication. The plaintiff, an Ohio man, claims he and his medical advisors were unaware of the risk of dental erosion and decay associated with Suboxone. The deadline for filing a lawsuit for dental issues is March 1.
The MDL Panel ruling has created MDL-3092, a new Suboxone class action lawsuit. The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has consolidated multiple lawsuits related to the marketing, sales practices, and product liability of Suboxone film. In addition, the panel argued that centralization would facilitate more efficient pretrial proceedings and avoid inconsistent rulings. It was further stated that the decision is a crucial step towards a global Suboxone settlement, with a realistic prediction of a settlement in 2025.
January 2024: The statute of limitations in Suboxone litigation may pose a challenge for some, as lawyers may only take cases in certain states due to concerns about the two-year statute. New cases are being filed in the following states:
- Texas, Florida, New York, North Carolina.
- Connecticut, New Jersey, Virginia.
- Washington, Massachusetts, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
- South Carolina, Utah, Arkansas, Mississippi, New Mexico.
- Nebraska, New Hampshire, Maine, Montana, Rhode Island.
Furthermore, the MDL Panel was expected to consolidate all Suboxone lawsuits in federal court in Ohio. On January 25, 2024, federal judges on the JPML in California deliberated on unifying all Suboxone teeth lawsuits related to tooth decay into a single MDL class action lawsuit. The event started the litigation, potentially leading to a global settlement payout for victims. Two Suboxone lawsuits were filed on behalf of young women and Ohio women, alleging permanent tooth damage and extensive dental work.
Defendants in the Suboxone Lawsuits
The main defendant in the Suboxone lawsuits is Indivior, Inc., a pharmaceutical company that creates and sells Suboxone. Similarly, Indivior specializes in making drugs for treating opioid addiction. It used to be part of another company called Reckitt Benckiser (Reckitt). However, Reckitt separated Indivior into its own company in 2014.
Suboxone class action lawsuits usually name Reckitt, Indivior, and other U.S. operational divisions as defendants. The primary responsibility for these lawsuits is likely to fall on Indivior. As a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange, Indivior has ample financial resources. However, Indivior has faced legal issues before. The Department of Justice charged the corporation with running a plan to entice patients to see doctors who would prescribe Suboxone.
Moreover, the corporation was also accused of making deceptive marketing claims regarding Suboxone. Another defendant is Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc., a pharmaceutical company based in New Jersey. Aquestive and Indivior worked together to develop Suboxone.
File a Claim against Suboxone Lawsuit
Lawsuits alleging dental injuries because of Suboxone treatment are still being filed. These lawsuits target patients who used Suboxone before 2022 and experienced dental issues. If your injury was discovered too long ago, the statute of limitations in your state may bar you from filing a lawsuit. However, the length of time varies by state. Nonetheless, lawyers may assist if your state has a statute of limitations of two years or longer.
Recent lawsuits for dental injuries from Suboxone can also be complex, especially after the FDA updated the warning label in June 2022 to include specific dental effects. It will be difficult to argue that you were not aware of the risks if you were prescribed Suboxone after the update.
Injuries cited in Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits include cavities, cracked teeth, infections, and tooth loss. To qualify, a prescription for Suboxone is generally required for opioid addiction treatment or pain management. Apart from this, you must have used Suboxone for at least six months before experiencing injuries. Specific dental issues are also required for eligibility. Therefore, contact an attorney immediately if you received your diagnosis more than a decade ago in order to preserve your right to sue.
Suboxone Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Amounts
Currently, it is estimated that Suboxone class action lawsuits will likely result in settlement payouts ranging from $50,000 to $150,000. Smaller cases may receive less, while some settlements could exceed this range. However, it’s important to note that these are estimates for settlement values. If Suboxone cases proceed to trial, the verdict payouts could be much higher.
Role of a Lawyer in Suboxone Lawsuit
A lawyer can assist you in gathering the necessary evidence of tooth decay or other injuries for your case. They will file your lawsuit and handle negotiations for a Suboxone settlement or prepare your case for a jury trial.
As is common with most product liability injury claims, lawyers typically offer free case evaluations for Suboxone teeth lawsuits. In fact, they only collect fees if they successfully recover a settlement or jury verdict on your behalf. A knowledgeable attorney’s involvement in a Suboxone claim comprises:
- An experienced lawyer will find out if you’re eligible to file a claim.
- He will manage the incident’s whole investigation.
- In addition, he will submit your lawsuit within the relevant statute of limitations in a civil court.
- A skilled attorney will also conduct intricate settlement negotiations.
- Besides, completing the claim’s trial preparation, if needed.
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Final Thoughts
Suboxone lawsuits are obviously about getting paid for dental damage brought on by the drug’s negative effects, given everything that was previously discussed. Usually, these lawsuits are aimed at the companies that make and sell Suboxone. Settlement amounts can differ but usually fall between $50,000 to $150,000, depending on how serious the dental problems are and other factors. That’s why having skilled lawyers is really important to make sure plaintiffs get a fair deal.