Oxycontin Damaged My Teeth (Page 29)

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.

REPLY

REPORT

That's a bold statement to make referring to rotting teeth from opioids being a myth!!! Yes, dry mouth does happen but happens with hundreds of drugs. But they don't rot your teeth!!! Unless you've walked a mile in my shoes, keep your opinions to yourself!!!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have had back surgery, a lung surgery, a stomach surgery, and I just broke my neck in a bad car wreck. I'm in pain but I never take oxcontin or morphine at home. When I leave the hospital all i get is norco 10mg. It's not the best but it takes the edge off. I hate to say this cause I care, but you are on your way to bad life. Stop taking the other stuff. Take norco of percocet. No doctor should write that. I know some pain tech. {edited for privacy}

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I HAVE walked a mile in your shoes. I was a heroin addict for 6 years and now have been on methadone for 14 years. So I have been on opiates/opioids for 20 years. I still have perfect teeth while everyone in my methadone clinic has bad teeth and they ALL say 'the methadone is rotting my teeth'.
THANKFULLY I have had the same awesome dentist since childhood and when he started seeing sudden fast decay he asked me if I was abusing drugs (because he has known me since I had baby teeth). I admitted I was on heroin and HE is the one who taught me about dry mouth rotting teeth and how saliva is a tooth protectant..He guided me to Biotene EARLY in my addiction and keeping my mouth moist has SAVED MY TEETH.
If you don't believe me...look it up.
'Do opioids cause dry mouth?' 'Does dry mouth cause tooth decay?'.
Biotene even has a commercial that addresses all of these things.
Why would you just ASSUME that I haven't 'walked a mile in your shoes'? That is very presumptuous.
You just have a dentist who either a) couldn't waste his time to teach you this stuff because he doesn't care about your oral health or 2)he is stupid and doesn't know.
I'm trying to teach you how to keep your remaing teeth out of the godness of my heart, but if you find that to be insulting...there's nothing I can say.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

You could try and sue your doctor for not informing you that opioids will dry your mouth causing decay. But a class action against the opioid manufacturer....they would just say that it is up to your doctor, dentist, pharmacist to tell you to use Biotene or other saliva replacement products. I doubt a class action would work.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Your doctor should be locked up if she permits you to take 80 mg of any opioid several times per day. I doubt this is true. A morphine drip does better and allows adequate physician control than allowing you to swallow 80mg at a time. You will be dead soon enough.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

When people begin to judge and compare it might be time to stop this thread. We all agree that dry mouth ads to tooth decay other then that none of us is in a position to judge her, her dosage or her doctors dosage. Maybe less is more when sharing info especially about opioids.
I have learned but for the grace of God go I, she shared asked for feedback why giver her a hard time it sounds like she has enough right now to deal with.
If you can't stay on topic or be nice who is a none to sis seat her docs a charlatan? I think some docs who push Harvoni are getting kick backs but until they get caught or people have a ton of life long sides we are all just Guinea pigs for big pharm. let's put this to rest.

I wish everyone healing there are solutions, it takes time and $$ but implants are wonderful. They can do wonders today I wish I had a pic of before and after. Ignore your teeth and they will go away!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

May i suggest you try Lyrica then. This is not an opiate and it DOES rot teeth. Just because a pharma company pays doctors to promote their products does not mean they are decent or good. Usually the products are too new for market and long term problems are not determined, and by the time they may be looked into, the patients who were prescribed the toxins they are led to believe -by trusted healthcare workers- are all well and good, the damage is already done and the patients are blamed for medical negligence. It's the way of the pharma/medical world. Use your resources. Search, read, ask, and when you think you know enough, search, read and ask some more. Medications and the doctors paid to distribute them are never as clean cut and dried as they seem. You need to stay alert...and aware!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I agree with you and thank you for the comment! This forum is for those of us who are dealing with both pain AND the side effects our prescribed medications have caused us (both physical and psychological), an outlet where wee can share in our frustrations, sadness, and depression. This is not, as you pointed out, the place to judge ANYONE FOR ANYTHING! And, like I said in my own similar post, keep your negative and/or judgemental comments to yourselves, they are NOT welcome here!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

TRY SUBOXON OR 1 OFF THE OTHER BUPRENORPHINE MEDS IT HELP ME I WAS ON 120 MG METHADONE FOR PAIN MANG. DAILY . LAST 4 YEARS ON SUBS AND MOTRIN 2 TIMES A DAY AND I DOING GREAT.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I am the one who originally attempted to help these hundreds of people with tooth decay due to their meds causing dry mouth by suggesting an oral moisturizer such as Biotene. If you read my original post I said, quote 'What happens is these drugs as well as a host of other drugs DRY OUT YOUR MOUTH CAUSING DECAY'.
I am surprised that practically NO ONE knows this.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

No, apparently we DON'T all know that dry mouth caused by several medications is actually what is REALLY rotting these poor soul's teeth because I am getting spammed with people actually DISAGREEING with me without even looking anything up first to throw some actual medical fact at me.
I am just hearing the tired old accusation that I I have been hearing for 14 years from ill informed addicts saying "methadone is rotting my bones and my teeth". PEOPLE, type these 2 questions into your smartphone, and TAKE HEED of the source of the article. Make sure it is a reputable medical publication and not just more addicts elsewhere stating OPINION.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Yes divia I'm in super pain for 20 years my mom was a dentist. I know these drugs over time will make u lose your teeth. I just broke my neck, I get norco only 3 per day. Tell me what is your pain. Maybe I could help you.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I am still shocked that so many people are taking doses of something so addictive that are nearly 100 times as high as what I've been taking with good pain management for very bad pain myself. I'm not blaming the patients, but the doctors. The highest dose I've ever taken outside the hospital is of Oxycodone, not Oxycontin, at 15 mg. Those of you taking 80 mgs have prescribers who don't care what happens to you in the long term. I've been on this drug for over 12 years with absolutely no harmful effects. I'm sorry to hear of your troubles, but I believe you have been victims of bad doctors.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Matthew I can tell you what every dentist is going to tell anyone on meds. I have seen so many dentist its not funny. My entire mouth has implants (almost) I have been to 3 dental schools and numerous dentists. They ALL say the same thing there are multiple reasons why people lose their teeth, genes, is the # 1 reason. Why did I lose so many of mine and my mother and bro had almost zero cavities?
Yet my father lost his to gum disease in his 30s? Answer~today they understand gum disease.

Here is what you can do, accept that your teeth are in the condition they are in. Go for deep cleanings, that means periodontal twice a year. Deal with it as difficult as it may be. The reasons that dentist will say, I asked ALL of them that would be at least 40. #1 sugar as a child, genes, trauma with no explanation what trauma is. They will say the same thing ALL MEDICATIONS affect teeth differently, most of all its dry mouth. If you use or have a history of drugs YES THEY STIGMATIZE you and say neglect No one wants to hear it but some if it is true.

I was in tears I looked like a jack - 0-lantern but made it a priority to fix my teeth! It took years and lots of mistakes I walked around with temps in for years. NOT a good idea there is more opportunity for decay. There were many mistakes made from dental students I had low funds. Somehow I worked here and there and people helped when they could. Today I can smile but I don't own a home or an apt either its all in my mouth. Priorities. Its expensive even in a dental school. I also had veneers, they lasted about 8 years and cost @$700.00 each it was a waste now that I look back but temp fix.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Dentist makes more money off your dental problems by not telling you!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

First of all what Dr prescribes you 6 to 8 80 mg oxycontin daily and then question no 2 is what insurance pays for something that is supposed to last 12 hrs. This doesn't !sound logical

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

It's up to you to ask your dentist/doctor or any other health care professional about health issues. You all are not children and your healthcare professional is not your parent. YOU AND ONLY YOU are responsible for looking after your health. Doctors should be seen as someone who can order tests and write prescriptions...they are not your parents. Doctors see hundreds of people in a week, do you think when you step into an office they remember your health problems? No. YOU tell THEM what the problem is, they look in their notes on you and if they are good, they might see a problem pattern in their notes, but most often they will miss it. They are 1)human 2)overworked. YOU must keep track of your health, look things up and educate yourself on what you need and tell the doctor what you need done. I know it's nice to put your health in someone else's hands and feel like you are being taken care of but it's not realistic and you will end up dead real fast with that M.O.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Anyone know of that dr. That's who I need to see because I sure have plenty of medical evidence to back it up and I only get 2-60 mg oc s and 3-10 mg percosett daily

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Get over yourself! You're most definitely NOT the first nor the only one who brought dry mouth up as the potential, but not necessarily the PRIMARY cause for tooth decay among those who've been on opioid pain management.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I had a hard odd lump come up under my jaw overnight and it turned out to be cancer stage 3 lymphoma. Had to go through chemo which was awful but it cured it for a year now. Sure weakened my bones though. I've had two vertabrae fracture since. Good luck and God bless!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

ive been on these for about 7 years and was just asking coz my teeth are slowly getting worse also on oxynorm amitriptol...

24 REPLIES

Has anyone else noticed that OxyContin 20mg wears off before 12 hours? I'm waiting for the extended relief pain meds...

4 REPLIES

I pulled a good one. My RXs were not in sync; one for extended release one week and the other immediate release the next...

5 REPLIES

Hi..I am currently taking OxyContin 20mg 3xdaily, Percocet, Zanaflex, Neurontin & Trazodone for the chronic pain tha...

4 REPLIES

My doctor recently put me on Oxycontin 15mg (twice daily) and he said that it would take a week for the medicine to reac...

2 REPLIES

I know my maroon/brick red color 60 mg oxycontin was replaced with a VERY believable look alike by a so called friend an...

I have a rx for 60 mg oxycontin and I can't find a pharmacy to fill. I just took last one and I don't want to ge...

2 REPLIES

Diagnosed with Ahlers-Danlos Syndrome almost 12 years now... I have chronic pain everywhere as all my joints are bone on...

8 REPLIES

I read some of your articles. I have knee problems, and had surgery on hold for slip disc in my lower back and in my kne...

2 REPLIES

NEED HELP PAYING FOR MY OXYCONTIN, I TAKE 80MG 3 X DAY . PLEASE HELP ## PRUDUE PHAR HELPED ME A COUPLE YEARS AGO WITH MY...

7 REPLIES