Oxycontin Damaged My Teeth (Page 28)
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Has anyone else known oxycontin to rot the teeth? I used to be on vicodin until my doctor told me I needed to switch to a morphine based meds. She put me on ms contin but I had problems with it so she put me on 80mg oxycontin. Eventually my body built up a tolerance so she kept raising it, i have am now on from 4-6 per day of the 80mg tabs. It scares me that this is what rotted my teeth because only 5 yrs ago i had only 2 cavities that needed filling and then only 1 yr after going on the oxycontin i had to have all my top front teeth pulled as they where rotting from the inside out the dentist said my mouth looked like a heroin addict's mouth looks. He said it was shocking to him that normally he only saw such damage from someone who abused drugs with so much dental damage, but i have never done any street drugs and have only take my meds as prescribed to me. Now i have lost 80% of my teeth and as a beautiful 41 yr old mother its devastating. I cant afford dentures and sure cant afford implants like i would like to have. I am a single mother and refuse to date because i have lost my teeth now, i had beautiful teeth before i started on the oxycontin and only 2 small cavities that needed filling. Does anyone else have this same problem and if so why hasn't the company making oxycontin warn patients of this possible problem?
If i had known this would cause me to lose most of my teeth i would have never agreed to go on it. Of course my family doctor who has been prescribing them tells me she hasn't heard of any other cases, yet when i researched the med online there where others like this why hasn't something been put in the warnings about this med, i sure would have preferred to have lived in pain the rest of my life rather than lose my teeth and be unable to even eat now. My health has gone downhill fast as i cant even chew foods necessary for good health. All I can eat now are yogurts, and liquid type of foods which isn't much. My kids are 7 and 9 yrs old and they watch me cry when we go out to eat and they order steak, and i can smell it but can't order one as i know i wont be able to chew it. This is so devastating for me. I want teeth so badly if i could wish for anything in life besides not to be poor anymore it would be to have a full set of real teeth or implants but i could never dream of having them, and i don't know anyone out there willing to just help me get any either. I have always helped others all my life, but cant even help myself, i have had to have 29 surgeries now since 1991 when a drunk driver hit my car and caused me major injuries with my lower back and knees, i have had a full lower back fusion and 8 arthroscopic knee surgeries until a year ago they finally had to do a full right knee replacement and now they are talking about doing my left knee soon.
So my life has been up and down with surgeries and i would go thru one more surgery just to have teeth implanted if i could. but i could never afford it, but i would like to know why these drug manufacturers are making a medication that could cause teeth to rot like this without warning us patients or even warning the doctors about it. This is just terrible of them i think, as now i am the one paying for this by having no teeth to eat with at such a young age now. I am a vibrant young 41 yr old at 5'3, 120lbs, slim woman, nice looking too as i was a model in my younger days, so i keep my looks up. But to have no teeth now... I never smile anymore, I am to ashamed to smile even though it wasn't my fault i lost my teeth. I think they should pay for me to have new teeth but no one wants to admit that the med causes it, but my diet wasn't the problem back when i started the medication and i wasn't drinking coca-cola either or doing street drugs so i know that wasn't the cause either. The only thing that changed within one year to cause this was starting the oxycontin medication. Well, if anyone out there can help me let me know thanks.
I am SO sorry!! I get the eating very carefully but to have a tooth crumble brushing your teeth?? That sounds exactly like nightmares I have had of all my teeth crumbling out of my mouth. I am going to try to stop taking the meds but I have no idea if that will help now. My dentist says my teeth are softer and he doesn't seem to know how to fix it. I just wanted to let you know I empathize totally and am so sorry you are going through this. I don't know if this is due to dry mouth or something else-- I used to use Biotene gym but they stopped making the gum and the other products are not any easier than sipping water. I personally think these drugs do something to the body's storage of calcium and other needed things. Its more than just dry mouth-- I don't have dry mouth that much. Anyway I wish you the best which I know isn't much. There isn't much else you can lose in your body and be judged like loss of teeth. Even I was guilty of it before it happened to me. Karma is a b****.
As for me I did NOT know this was causing my damage. I kept saying that it had to be and every doctor, dentist, pain support site told me no way. How do we figure it out unless we are all comparing symptoms?? The drug literature sure doesn't say it. And if people can't b**** a little cause if this problem then what is the point of a support board? And if it bugs you why do you read it??
I thank the person that wrote about carrying the jug and taken hundreds of sips a day to help with the rotting of our teeth from this medicine . I agree with u that this may slow down but not stop the problem with our teeth ! I should have made that more clear . Just frustrated that we have no way to get all of us together to figure out how many of us have this or to get legal help ! Any idea's are greatly appreated ! Mailman
most people take these meds because that is what their Dr told them to do without telling them about the oral effects
Thanks for responding. I have had an abscess before, so I remember. I've also had 5 teeth pulled at once back when I was 21 and much healthier—it was hell! I could not even walk out of the office afterwards. Someone carried me to the car. I had a hard time coming out of the anesthesia. I had that procedure done on a Friday, then spent the next 3 days flat out. I remember Campbell's soup. Since then I've had the others pulled one by one as they have deteriorated. Not so bad, but I also wasn't under anesthesia for those—just novocaine. I've also been asked if I used meth by the dentist (ya, thanks for that). This latest round of teeth problems started with losing a filling from a front tooth while brushing my teeth. Now with the number of teeth I need pulled it's just a bit unsettling and scary. Plus, getting a ride is hard. Only one of my kids lives in town and she's not been here lately because she attends college in Canada. She's not too keen on taking off work from a part time job then driving 30m to pick me up, 30m to appointment then back again then home. It's rough. She has done it for me though. I've had an ENOURMOUS amount appointments this year; 4 hearings, doctor, optometrist, dentist, HHSA renewals, and the list keeps going on. My other kid drives 120m to do the grocery shopping for me and help out with other appointments. Thankful for them! But, I'd like to just scream!
I so feel your pain. I was first perscribed lortabs and right before the switch is when they started rotten rapidly. Ive had drs say its because my body will not asorb calcium anymore. I would also do anything for a set of teeth (real or implants). Its so embarressing as well. Ive completely changed the way that i smile, the way i talk, the way i laugh. And the infections, oh my god, they're horrible. It feels like your jaw bone is breaking and you can feel it break strand by strand. The pain is unimaginable and until you go through it, you'll never know what it's like. The worse part of all is when you go to a dr or dentist and they look in your mouth, the first thing that they think/say is things like meth & crack. It's like you get judged before they even know anything about you. It's the worse feeling in the world. And having to take EVERY SINGLE bite cautiously. Scared that you're going to break another tooth with each chew. I've literally had a tooth crumble WHILE I WAS BRUSHING MY TEETH!!! Nothing like only being able to eat a bag of chips by completely crushing every chip inside the bag until its all almost completely powder and then STILL having to squish that up against the roof of your mouth to be able to dissolve them even more! i would literally give up the use of one of my arms or legs for my teeth to be fixed. its so horrible. I break down every day. Every morning when I wake up I have to check to see if any more of my teeth crumbled while i was sleeping. I wish i could even afford STARTING to fix them. Without insurance, all you can afford is to have them pulled..... repairing them is a distant dream....i would be forever grateful for assistance. Ive never asked for anything in my life, instead i have always given and wouldnt ever change that. but at this point, i have to ask, no BEG for help for myself. Please. if you could help in anyway, i would be eterbally grateful and in debt to you. please post a response if possible. i've never wrote this before, only cried to my loved ones (kids), but seeing your story was so close to mine that its scary and lit something in me to make me write this and ask for help. Thank you. And good luck to you as well. You are not alone at all and i will always keep you in my mind and heart.
Well, first of all, I can tell you from very recent and first hand experience that you definitely don't want to allow any of those teeth to abscess!!! One of mine did and ended up bursting. Believe me, there's virtually no other pain that compares. But, and much more important is the fact that it can be extremely dangerous as the abscess is a pocket of infectious pus that can become systemic and potentially infect other parts of your body (through the blood stream). The heart is especially vulnerable so I don't have to tell you just how dangerous it can be. I've only had two bottom molars removed aft one time and, personally, I would much rather have it all done at once and only have to recover once then have them removed one at a time, then again, that's only my opinion and preference. That would also mean that you would only need one round trip ride, if that's high on your priority list. Hope this helps.
I have a question for those who've lost teeth:
Once your teeth have broken do you get the rest if it pulled?
I currently have seven teeth either broken off or in pieces. Sometimes they don't bother me and sometimes the pain is horrible. I want to get the roots pulled out. I don't want to get abscesses. But this is where I'm a bit stuck. I'm already a burden on my kids and with the family I live with for rides and favors. Having only coverage for extractions I'm afraid I'll either have to make multiple visits or will have to endure pulling them all at once with no sedation or anesthesia except for Novocain shots (which don't really work on me—takes fifteen or so shots to numb me).
Has anyone had multiples pulled? Especially the fronts.
: )
m
I'm currently sitting in the hospital with two abscessed teeth and lost 6 teeth this year alone after 10 years of being on OxyContin. I truly believe that the medication has everything to do with it as my pain group patients report the same problems. I feel for you I really do. I'm a successful business man of 42 and can't smile or like you say even eat properly. Is this medication really worth it when we already have depression issues from not being the attractive and healthy individuals we were.
WELL PUT AND I SIMPLY COULD NOT AGREE WITH YOU MORE!!! My JUG, as I and my friends and family call it, is either always in one of my hands or within arms reach and has been literally for years. Unfortunately, even taking small sips hundreds of times a day,as well as throughout the night hasn't stopped the progression of my tooth decay and tooth loss but, who knows, I suppose it's possible that it slowed it down and that everything that's happened to my teeth would have happened much sooner and faster than it did. The unfortunate thing, at least in my opinion, is that it didn't stop it and I'm currently awaiting the day when all four of my top front teeth will simply fall out, they're so loose. Thank you for the suggestion and I just wanted you to hear from someone who won't go anywhere, no matter how short the distance or amount of time, without my fluid filled jug. Blessings.....
I have posted before but this time is different ! If you are just starting to loose your teeth from taking oxy for pain please try this because it slowed my problem some . Keep a bottle of water and sometimes Propel or any healthy drink but mostly water with you at all times and at night on your nightstand . Drink as often as possible so your mouth isn't dry ! Try to fight the drymouth as much as you can ! Swish it around in your mouth and u don't have to drink a lot just drink often ! You may have to go to the bathroom more often and even wake up at night to use bathroom ! I myself have a hard time sleeping at night because of pain as many other you do also . So the thought of waking at night for anything other than your pain is hard but take some water when you do and try to fight the drymouth that I was never told about with this medicine is a factor in destroying your teeth ! It is to late for me and many others because we never had the chance ! I am not a doctor , nurse , nor do I have any medical degree or knowledge of medicine ! But I do know water is healthy for us all so I don't beleive that water can hurt anyone ! Check with your doctor about drinking a lot of water and if he says it's ok try to carry a bottle with you always ! No matter where you go try to not let your mouth get dry ! I carry a bottle of water always ! If I forget one I stop at first store I see and buy one and remember it isn't that you have to drink a lot each time but it is to drink often ! I have lost most of my teeth and the ones I do have look horrible because of enamel chipping away. It has made me a hermit and try to never be in pictures ! That is a problem I should have never had ! My back pain is the biggest problem I have ever had with my health and I am always in pain but having Oxycontin perscribed for my pain and then have it destroy what little social life I may have had and cause tooth pain that at times can hurt more than my back ! I feel like if my back pain being like my car being on fire and the company that makes Oxycotin handed me a bucket with what I thought was water in it . But when I threw it on the fire I find out it was filled with lighter fluid instead of water ! It didn't help it gave me a much bigger fire ! So if this suggestion of fighting drymouth with water in any way helps 1 person then please tell other people so maybe we can do what the company that makes Oxycontin should have done and that is to leave our teeth alone and just helped us with our pain instead of making more money than anyone could ever imagine at the cost of our teeth and dignity ! The saddest part is they could fix us all with implants to fix what they did and we would be thrilled ! We don't want any money we just want our Teeth and dignity back !!!! The mail is delivered !
My apologies to you and everyone else on this forum. When I wrote the post i had been awake all night dealing with the most outrageous tooth pain I'd ever experienced in all of my 57 years. One of my front teeth, that I thought might be abscessed, not only was but the abscess burst during the night. I swear.... I thought might actually pass out from the pain which, although a bit better, is still almost too much too be able to tolerate. The irony here is that the only thing I can do to help relieve it is to take the very medication that has caused it (and continue to perpetuate it) which is extremely frustrating as I'm sure you can agree. On the other hand, and once again, I'm sorry that I came off like I did. I should never write anything (especially regarding this subject) when I'm experiencing pain anywhere close to that level and I hope that you'll not only understand but forgive me as well. We all make mistakes and have lapses in judgment, especially when it's been clouded by virtually the most horrific pain I've ever experienced.
Warm regards and blessings to all of you who are also suffering on a daily basis....
I have the same problem with my teeth too. I wasn't blessed with good teeth to begin with. By age 21 I had to have 5 molars pulled and have always had cavities, root canals, had a partial, etc.
Almost 20 years ago I was hit by an unlicensed, uninsured, probably drunk driver who ran a red light. And hit the driver's side of my van head on, then whipped sideways and hit the back of it. That changed my life forever. The car was just a wreck after that (costing an ENOURMOUS amount of money to keep fixing) and my body didn't take it well either. Severe fibromyalgia, herniated discs, coupled with degenerative disc disease, Lyme disease, sciatica, calcific bursitis, and osteoarthritis caused chronic, intractable pain. I've been on fentanyl or morphine for 15 years (with NO increases in dosage—because I don't want to be labled an addict). I also have taken anti-depressants (gee, I wonder why?), nuerontin and a few other medications that dry out my mouth. As of 4 years ago I could no longer work, so haven't had insurance, therefore, no way to fix all my dental problems. My teeth look horrible. I never smile. I just found out last week that my 4 year trek with the SSA resulted in a "Fully Favorable Decision" for disability. So, I'll be getting a bit of money to live on. However, now that I'm no longer able to work to take care of myself AND have the disability check coming and some health coverage, I can't get ANY work done on my teeth EVER! My state does not cover anyone over the age of 21. They will pull out the teeth though, but I'm not allowed any sedation for that. I might as well be sitting in a barber's chair in the 1800s and swig whiskey while a dude pulls my teeth out with pliers!
I worked hard all my life, since I was 16. I raised 2 kids. On top of full-time work I went to school at night at half-time status. On top of that I played in a band with rehearsals one night a week and four gigs on weekends. I did that until 5 years ago. I also worked on my own projects (I'm an artist) on the side. I took my kids camping. I travelled to see bands I liked. I used to snow ski (even skied a week after my car crash). I rode a skateboard and biked. Now, I can barely stand or walk and have to use a wheelchair when I go out. Some idiot woman, probably high, plowed into my driver's side door at 45mph and now MY life and my kids' lives suffer. My kids have been basically supporting me for the last 4 years. Yes, that's SO demeaning to me. I adore my kids and they shouldn't have to take care of me. They are in their early 20s. I should be taking care of them and treating them to fun stuff.
Right now my teeth hurt so badly I can't chew. The nerves on my teeth are exposed and even drinking room temp water hurts (even with all the pain meds I take). The dry mouth does make me unusually thirsty, so I've been drinking the sodas (I used to only have about one a day). To get the food down I use my tongue and the roof of my mouth to soften it up.
I read the first page of comments here and I realize they are old, but still are valid. Shame on those who have a cold-hearted attitude towards poeople they have judged less worthy than themselves and have not travelled in a sufferer's shoes. My sister ridicules me for getting disability, yet she has not spoken to me or seen me in at least 15 years. How would she know what is going on with my health? I sympathize with those who have needed pain medications and are derided for using them and labled addicts without cause. I understand. I abhor those who crack off about how we should have known better and done research before taking the meds. I did mine. I researched the heck out of all my meds. And I don't mean I googled. I mean I went to the library and read the articles in medical dictionaries and encyclopedias and textbooks.
Sometimes, getting rid of the pain—even momentarily—is like grabbing for that brass ring. You just want a little relief. A little sleep. You aren't always thinking of 15 or 20 years down the line when the body starts to wear down and that my teeth may become sensitive.
If I hadn't taken the pain meds I would have been dead already!
I am going through the same thing. I have been on chronic pain meds (not always the same one) and while I had excellent teeth, had my first cavity at age 16, and now I have had a root canal on practically every tooth I have except the front ones, and the other day I was eating and suddenly realized something was wrong and discovered my tooth, the one next to my left front tooth had broken off at the gum. I tried to get a root canal and crown but the decay went up under my gums. I now have to wear a flipper and I hate how it feels, how it makes me talk, and I cant eat with it in. I plan to get a transplant but it takes 4 months to heal before you can get the crown so I am stuck with this partial til then. I am definitely going to get off these pain meds- no point in spending money on a transplant if they could all go like that. My teeth were the one thing I was proud of and my worst fear was losing one. I totally understand refusing to date because of the teeth issue- I feel exactly like that right now.
Wow - temper tantrum much? A message board is for people to talk about their ailments related to the topic. Don't you think everyone else is just as frustrated, irritated, irate, and in pain - both physical and mental - as you?
OMG!!! And sorry to sound... No, BE SO IMPATIENT, but when are ALL OF YOU GOING TO (like I said before) STOP COMPLAINING AND STOP COMPARING OUR/YOUR SYMPTOMS??? We ALREADY KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, WHO/WHAT IS TO BLAME, AND WHAT NEEDS THO BE DONE IN ORDER TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE AND JUSTICE (not to mention help getting our teeth fixed or, in many cases, replaced by the responsible party/parties!!! I've said it before and I'll say it again... We can begin recruiting those, like us, who have or are currently dealing with the ravages of Oxycontin and/or Oxycodone (or have family or friends dealing with it) where we can begin to organize, assess our numbers, strategize, and WORK TOGETHER IN ORDER TO REACH AND ACHIEVE A COMMON GOAL, RIGHT? Bottom line is, LESS TALK, MORE ACTION... otherwise we're simply wasting our time even discussing this! Doesn't anyone else feel the same way I do, or am I wasting my time, too, on a group of people, like myself, who have been irreparably and obviously harmed by a drug who's manufacturer failed to fully disclose the full potential of it's "dry mouth" side effect! What's it going to take for even ONE OF YOU to stand up, be a part of the change and help me/and the rest of us hold someone accountable?
AGAIN..... ENOUGH TALK! LET'S GET SOME ACTION GOING (otherwise this ongoing conversation is going to end up being nothing but one VERY LONG B**** SESSION). So.... Who's in it to win it? Who's going to put some effort behind the words? I'll do my part, but only if I start seeing some commitment on yours! So.... What say you?
I had a doctor's appointment on Monday. I have been going to the same place for about 2 years now and have seen my doctor (who has since quit the practice for other reasons I believe may involve me and a whole different situation) two times during those entire two years. I have seen no doctor in more than the past 12 months, only physician assistants. I'm sure you all know, to some degree, that they aren't at all thorough because they don't have the full spectrum of medical education as a doctor.
When I was in there Monday, I asked the PA if she'd heard anything about oxycontin/oxycodone causing dental issues. She looked at me as if I were an alien with six heads. When I told her I'd been reading into it and I showed her some of the damage to my teeth her response was something to the effect that the kind of problem(s) I was referring to was more commonly associated with illegal street drugs, meth, etc. I told her she clearly knew from my three monthly drug tests, two saliva and one urine, that I was in no way, shape, or form involved with those things because I would have been "kicked out" of the practice if my test results showed anything other than my prescriptions. I do not now, nor have I ever deviated from what is prescribed to me.
I informed her that this was not within the typical list of side effects because it was discovered AFTER the FDA approved the medications and they were used on a wider scale than during the trials. She told me she would have to look into it but did not have time. Of course, this was a less than desirable response and will be further pursued by me but I wanted to put it on here to show the degree of ignorance of those practicing in this field, handling sensitive medications with serious effects on our bodies, minds, self image, self worth, self esteem, and so many other aspects of our beings and in turn, our lives. We are worth so much more than this and it is high time someone recognize that.
I take far less (mg) than most of you have mentioned and knowing how much damage it has done to my teeth and probable the bone as well, I really feel for you all. My dentist told me it would cost $10,000 to fix my teeth and that's not counting what I will have to do from there to deal with the TMJ I also have.
I am looking into class action attorneys. I am just unsure what level of information we are allowed to share on this particular forum so a little insight would be helpful if anyone would be able to provide such. Thank you.
May you suffer as minimally as possible today and every day.
Losing ones teeth, due to taking any of the Oxy drugs (codone or contin), has absolutely nothing to do with having pain in the mouth, just to clarify that point right off the bat. No matter what part of the body, or more than one, that the drug it's being taken for, the result on your teeth are going to be the same... Tooth loss, and more than likely, complete tooth loss. The ONLY warning that's given by the drug's manufacturer that even comes close to pertaining to tooth loss is the warning of "dry mouth." The problem is that's exactly where they leave it and they don't bother to let the patient/user to know that dry mouth is a direct cause to tooth decay and tooth loss (and they know this!) Lastly, and insofar as clients being all over country, that's pretty standard in legal proceedings (look at how many thousands were involved in the tobacco companies case suits back in the 70' and 80's, and even into the 90's!). The plaintiff's were literally all over the country and today, with our ability to communicate SO much easier and more effective, that wouldn't even be an issue. That's why I was hoping to find someone from "our community" to set up a page so we might finally be able to freely communicate, organize, and gather in numbers which will help strengthen our cause and subsequently, our case (not to mention to help us, through our member base, find an attorney or a firm who would be willing to take on a very large, powerful, wealthy and well connected drug company. Any questions?
I am on board, the problem will be finding a lawyer that is willing to take on the case considering that we are all in different states and iam not sure how to start up a class actio suite. I am going in to have all my lower teeth pulled next week so maybe I should take pictures afterwards so the lawyer can see how devastation it is to everyone that is going through this due to the medicine we all took for our pain elsewhere on our bodies,since I have not read any comment saying they were on the pills due to having pain in thier mouth.well I hope you know how to get this started the best deal would be to find a lawyer that has lost his/hers teeth due to pain meds. Please keep us updated and let us know what we need to do for you to make it happen, thank you
Who, out there who has or is having to deal with this terribly painful (both physically as well as psychologically) side effect from having been prescribed Oxycontin or Oxycodone (those specifically manufactured by Purdue Pharmaceuticals)? What I DO KNOW is that absolutely NOTHING WILL HAPPEN (re: finding a law firm to organize and take legal action against them) if we cannot speak freely and directly to one another! We are in great numbers and most likely more than any of us can possibly imagine... Enough of us that neither a law firm nor the defendant will be able to ignore much less dismiss. Strength will be in our sheer numbers a well as our indignation over what's been done to us without having been warned.Okay... Who's up for it? Enough talk, enough complaining, and enough comparing notes and symptoms! IT'S TIME TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! Not just for ourselves... Our teeth are already gone, or will soon be. But perhaps for those who haven't yet experienced this life changing side effect that the drug company describes so innocently as "dry mouth" without fully disclosing what the TRUE effect and the bottom line result will (not "might") be! So, once again... Who will be the one who will help me get us organized as ONE POWERFUL AND UNITED VOICE???
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