Suboxone is a Schedule 3 controlled substance approved by the FDA in October 2002 to treat opioid dependence. It has two main ingredients—buprenorphine and naloxone—which work in tandem to regulate the most severe withdrawal symptoms.
While this medication has been hailed as an effective treatment to address the ongoing opioid epidemic and other drug crises, many Suboxone users have experienced serious undisclosed side effects, compounding the hardship of drug addiction and abuse.
Here’s what you need to know about Suboxone and how the personal injury attorneys at Sommer Schwartz can help you recover compensation from the manufacturer of this dangerous drug.
The Perks of Taking Suboxone
It’s easy to see why the FDA might approve a supposed wonder drug like Suboxone. Indeed, after two decades on the market, this medication addresses some of the most difficult hurdles in combating drug addiction.
According to manufacturers and health professionals, Suboxone:
- Blocks the “opioid effect,” or that pleasurable “high” people get when using an opioid.
- Alleviates—and sometimes eliminates—cravings.
- Is convenient, allowing individuals to be treated as outpatients instead of inpatients for lengthy detox treatments.
- Is less habit-forming than previous medications.
- Has a calming effect, making it easier for patients to heal mentally and physically.
In follow-up studies, researchers found that half of patients using Suboxone had a significant reduction in prescription painkiller abuse. These seem like fairly good numbers, especially when considering some studies that put rehab relapse percentages at nearly 80%. Despite these recognized benefits, Suboxone carries inherent and harmful risks.
The Undisclosed Dark Side of Suboxone
A handful of serious, undisclosed side effects have prompted users to file recent lawsuits against Suboxone’s manufacturers. By the end of 2023, injured patients and families filed more than one hundred lawsuits claiming that taking Suboxone caused serious dental issues, including:
- Cavities and root canals.
- Tooth fractures.
- Tooth loss.
- Severe tooth decay.
- Infections.
- Tongue and gum injuries.
The injuries reached such a high level that, in 2022, the FDA issued a warning cautioning patients of these potential side effects. However, this won’t be enough to shield Suboxone from two decades of liability if they failed to disclose these serious side effects.
Has Taking Suboxone Injured You or a Loved One?
The law requires drug manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to disclose all known risks of the medications they bring to market; they need to be held accountable when they don’t. If you’ve suffered a serious side effect from taking Suboxone—or any other prescription medication—and wonder about undisclosed risks, we want to hear from you. Contact Sommers Schwartz today for a free consultation, and let our team of highly experienced personal injury attorneys help you get the compensation you deserve.
Jason J. Thompson
Jason Thompson is a nationally board certified trial attorney and co-chairs Sommers Schwartz’s Complex Litigation Department. He has a formidable breadth of litigation experience, including class action and multidistrict litigation (MDL), and practices nationwide in both state and federal courts.
