Oxycontin Damaged My Teeth (Page 30)

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.

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Have u tried nucynta ER for chronic pain? I just started I have no dry mouth but it does not work well. I just wonder do you or anybody knows anything about it?

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I totally agree with you ppl should not be judged cause of there pain,anxiety and deppersion. I'm sick of being judged I can't find true love I'm sad lonley depressed I get used and taken advantage of I'm done. I have enough sleeping pill benzodiazepines and subutex to end it. I don't see any hope just because a person has nice things don't make them happy. I'm done I have had it I'm 42 all I want is a nice SWF I prefer kids cause I never had any of my own but I can't find that. Why live in misery everyday why dred waking up in the morning. Why go on anymore? So why not end the suffering and I can't began to tell y'all my suffering. I wish y'all luck. I'm going soon so don't pity me i had my chance and blew it. Good bye and good luck. No need to respond I want be around to read it

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I wish you would get the help that you need. A ruined relationship isn't worth ending you life. You have value and need to speak to someone.
Hang in there! People care.

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ANGELA: I know this is old, but I had to comment. I find it interesting that your dentist said your mouth looked like an "opiate addict's mouth". Opiates themselves do not cause tooth decay. Most of the time, the bad teeth that can accompany opiate addiction are from outside sources related to the addiction, but not the drug itself. (I am a 30 year+ opiate addict). I have also heard that pill forms of opioids are WAY worse on teeth. As far as the dry mouth that Verwon mentioned, I have never had that as a side effect. Maybe that is more of a side effect, again, of pill forms of opioids. The thing is, most addicts are complete and total sugar addicts as well. That is the reason I ended up with dentures at the age of 35. Now, my dentures were done REALLY well, and they look natural. I had big, straight, white teeth already, so they do not look "fake" on me, as they can on others. And they are so well-fitting, I do not even use the denture adhesives. But as I said, opiate addicts are all complete sugar addicts, plus most of them smoke cigarettes (which reeks havoc on the mouth) as well as the lifestyle many of them have of not taking care of themselves, living in bad environments, and not going to the dentist. Most of my 30+ I have been what you would call a "working junkie": I have a straight laced spouse, a job, a home, a car, and all the outward signs of "normalcy". I am not the stereotypical junkie on the corner or up in an alley. Now methamphetamine users and coke addicts? THAT STUFF will completely and totally WRECK your teeth. But an opiate itself? Not really. Good luck, and maybe consider some dentures or implants. Just make sure you go to a really good, reputable dentist. As I said, mine look totally natural!

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I love that you are taking up for the person above but you are because someone judged disabled people. As a former addict, you have not walked in my shoes. You don't know how people get addicted. Some of us got addicted because we had a surgery and were given pain meds. The American Medical Association and big pharma are out to make a buck and keep us sick. It's all a big cycle that we will never be able to break out of. There is freedom and deliverance in Christ Jesus...He can heal you of your pain, sickness, and disease. If you don't want to take the meds...cry out to the Lord...He is the great physician. I don't even know why I commented on this except that I believe it is something that you need to hear. GOD bless you all <3

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Hey what happened to the lady that thought 30mg of the same meds was stronger than 60mg of it?? I mean come on. She must have road the short bus to school lol. Made me laugh in a long time

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I truely hope you reconsider your choice because only you know your pain and I am sure it's real and no one can judge you from a computer that has never met you . I am going through so tough times but want you to know you matter to me and the people on here that feel your pain, you matter to them ! Hopefully tomorrow or some time soon they come out with a way to fight the pain and what causes your pain and I would pray you are here for that day ! When I joined this group years ago I met Christine on here and she helped me by explaining to me that we are all here to help each other not to judge or knock each other ! Those that do those things should start a different sight where all the people can knock each other and kick each other when you are down . Then tell each other how great it feels to be perfect and judge each other until 1 of you are the best at hurting others ! Then you can look down on the others in your group and feel real good about yourself ! Let's try to help each other here and if you don't care about others leave the rest of us to try to help each other get better Please ! Sorry Christine and everyone on here for not being around ! I was in hospital and just hurting but had to deliver this mail myself . Hang in there Mathew I am just one of many people that cares about you ! The Mailman

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I know because my mom was a dentist. Dry mouth will cause tooth decay I don't how I can proof this too y'all I can't send X-rays on here. True i was an addict since 07 after my back sugery. And I have had other surgies since also a broke neck to months ago. I'm . I useto word with doctors I know dry mouth will cause decay tooth rot. I'm lucky I have kept most of my teeth. There are products on the market that will help dry mouth. I used to be in the medicial field. I can give y'all numbers and y'all can call them. Just let me know also ppl on here are taking too much pain meds. It makes it harder on the rest of us. Your gonna have too take some pain. Doctors tell me I can't give you enough to take all the pain. Good luck

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This will be my last message before I go . Don't blame the doctors for prescribing the blame lays on the patient they tell the doctor what they want and what meds don't work and they complain of serious pain and they tell the doctors they are allergic to certian meds. So that backs a doctor in a corner belive me I have worked with doctor for years also my mom was a DDS. I have friends who are doctors and an uncle that was one. I hate to say this but I know more about meds side effects than anyone on here I have worked with hospice patients. So don't get mad I'm telling the truth. The blame lays on the ppl here that talk about how much they can take or want. It's ppl on here that make it hard for the ones that relly need it . It a damn shame

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Did you read any of my post opiate pills that cause dry mouth will cause tooth decay. My moms a dentist and I can give you numbers you can call to get the proof. I can't post X rays on here so tell me what kind of proof u need and I'll try to provide it.

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LISSY: This is a forum about drugs/medications. It is called Meds Chat, not God Chat. Please refrain from expressing your personal religious views on here. That is exactly what it is....PERSONAL. If you want to talk about Christianity, there are plenty of chat rooms for that. Thank you.

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MATTHEW: No, it was even worse than that! It was "is 15mgs more than 60mgs"? I think she was just confused. I'm thinking that the doc gave her an ADDITIONAL 15mgs to add to the 60, and she was just confused or something...??

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Hello Angela, My name is Steve, and im in the same boat as you. ( Except im a guy and my daughter is 24 and on her own). I severely injured by ankle/foot about 14-15 years ago due to a bad fall down some stairs on the cruise ship i used to work on. I missed a step due to a child passenger playing with a hacky-sack and ended up launching forward, sitting on my ankle which was locked in the stair gap and then somersaulting forward a few times down the stairs. My ankle broke like a big tree splitting in half, i also severely dislocated the joint, ripped all the nerves all around my ankle and foot and broke the joint bigtime. This created a swelling that lasted just about a year and entire foot and lower leg/shin was black as night and my foot/ankle was the size of a basketball pretty much.

I started taking pain meds soon after due to the severe chronic nerve damage, nerve pain - ( C.R.P.S. - Chronic regional pain syndrome ) and chronic Osteo-Arthritis and Tendonitis. I also have a deteriorating Talus bone in my ankle joint and keep needing surgery every bunch of years now to clean out chunks of bone that keep breaking off into my ankle joint causing major tearing inside my ankle, extreme nonstop pain, very limited mobility and ability to walk. Like you im sure, ive seen tons and tons of different doctors, specialists and others etc and they've all said i will have this chronic nerve pain and deterioration of my ankle joint for life. Therefore i told myself years ago to accept it, learn to condition myself to the fact im going to live in severe pain for life and have no choice but to live the best life i can and work to around it with everything i do, period.

For about 5 years i was on oxycontin 3-4 times a day ( 20mg ext rel tabs ), but after a few surgeries and literally years of rehab and every treatment known in the medical field i eventually stopped taking the meds as my pain seemed to calm down over time. A year n half to 2 years later after living a relatively normal life my pain came back with a vengeance and again forced me to start taking pain meds again. This time i had no choice but to not only take more meds, ( due to my very high pain limit and tolerance to drugs period ), but to also take 2 different kinds of opiates. An instant release pill and an extended release pill, mainly to help keep me and my body in balance and to help counteract side affects, up n down med swings and above all else withdrawals from the instant release meds needing to be taken again. I have taken the same two types of opiates again now for approx 7 years and have kept the same dosage also without continuously needing more and constantly bugging my doctor for more and more pills and stronger dosages.

Taking the meds routinely everyday and approx the same times everyday has allowed me to maintain responsibility and balance when pretty much everybody else either cannot, or fails to due to either abuse, or from taking them sporadically or with alcohol and other drugs. I dont drink anymore, or at least very very little and rarely, and i quit all other drugs except once in awhile ill say screw it and go enjoy myself once or twice a year maybe at a music festival or something for fun, but thats literally it.

Now to the point you care about Angela, I have also gone thru major tooth decay and tooth loss like you. I quit drinking pop years ago except here and there but i basically only drink water 24/7 and tea sometimes but no sugary drink if i can help it. My diet isnt the best but i work hard at work and eat well enough to keep me going and i try not to eat crappy fast foods etc if possible but it does happen given the nature of my work as we're all over the place and sometimes its convenient. Approx 2.5 years ago i started having pain in my mouth when i would wake up and went thru oragel ( tooth numbing gel ), and lots and lots of tylenol and advil. I was stressed out and gritting my teeth hard in my sleep as i dreamed ( another opiate side affect is extreme dreaming for some people when they're stressed out apparently ). I wasnt grinding my teeth but i was clenching them really hard and actually cracked a couple one night. I went to the dentist and he ended up pulling 2 teeth which i was pissed about but had no choice but to accept. He also told me i needed some major work and it would cost quite a bit. I started to get depressed and pissed off at the same time and it was then i started looking for answers as to why after years and years i was only now losing my teeth, ( which were well kept, straight and strong ), and why they were in serious trouble all of a sudden. After researching online and talking to some people i also learned that my pain meds were causing my teeth major problems and would continue to cause me to lose my teeth. This reality really hit me hard and i to suffer from the same ill-confident issues as you Angela. I dont smile like i used to, i can only eat on one side and my mouth is always dry and lacking moisture. I drink water constantly all day and night and i always have some kind of mints or whatever on me also. The only difference between us right now Angela is im very very fortunate and blessed to have an amazing mom that is able to help me with my teeth and help me financially as im cannot afford it unless i pay payments over time. ( I do have to pay her back and I am giving her my tax returns and other money as it get it ). This is where you need some help, I can only imagine how stressed out, depressed and above all else out of your mind about such a thing as losing your darn teeth !!!! It hit me hard like i said, ive been told im a good looking man and very attractive all my llfe but not being able to smile or try dating again is breaking me down everyday more and more. I have help and eventually my mouth will be fixed and ill be able to smile again but you are in a different situation right now and need some help by the sounds of it to get yourself back on track in life and back to living your life the best you can given your pain and situation in general. Raising 3 children is crazy hard as it is, nevermind doing it alone and living with chronic pain and a sadness from not being able to express yourself and smile etc.

{edited for privacy}

I live in Vancouver, BC in beautiful western Canada and i believe you're in Michigan i read in one of your posts?? ( Just curious if you're a Detroit Red Wings hockey fan or not ?? Lol ) I love hockey, but then again im Canadian and its in our blood lol. ( I actually thought about telling everyone I lost my teeth playing hockey but everyone knows i cant skate anymore due to my ankle being screwed lol ). I hope we can continue this conversation and figure something out to help you, im very good at finding options in tuff situations and finding ways out of messes and finding solutions to problems. You have a problem and it needs fixing but its not the end of the world Angela, there is ALWAYS a solution and always a way thru very hard and difficult situations, we just have to find it and make it happen for you and we can. I hope to hear from you but if not then i hope at least you see you're not alone and you have somebody here who is also experiencing the same problems, also suffering from chronic never-ending brutal pain and is also feeling the same emotions as you. I'll help you anyway i can.
Keep strong Angela and hope to hear from you soon!!

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GOD is the only way that I got through it. I will never stop talking about what He has done for me. One day you will see...every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. He is the ONLY answer.

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LISSY: Whether there is a "god" or not is your personal opinion, and has nothing to do with this website. AGAIN, this is a site about medication, not your religious views. It is an inappropriate post for this site. You have been reported.

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I really have SO much more I'd like to say to you regarding your last post, Matthew, but none of it is appropriate on this forum. I will, however, say this... HOW DARE YOU! As far as I'm concerned, take your attitude and try to find another site where self righteousness is welcome. This is a forum where we're hold each other up, listen to each other, and allow everyone to pour their hearts out to one another without fear of being judged or being made little of. I hope you find a forum that will accept your attitude but, knowing as much about the wonderful people here, I don't believe yours necessarily fits in. Good luck to you, however, and thanks for your contribution no matter how inappropriate they've been.

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CHRISTINE: You are right, we are here to help each other. At least that's what it is SUPPOSED to be about. I was certainly not meaning to belittle anyone, and as I said, I think that person was just confused on their dosages.

I also find it inappropriate for people to preach their personal religious beliefs on here. Whatever a person feels about the "afterlife" or whether there is a "god" or not, or what that "god" is called....this is not the forum for it. Just inappropriate. Medication and the various things having to do with said medication. Let's all keep it POSITIVE, and keep it ON TOPIC, eh?

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Angela, yes oxycontin will decay the teeth from the inside out...as a matter of fact all opiods will do this as well as non opiate medications. I was injured quite severely overseas in 2003, I was prescribed the usual morphine at varying doses as well as percocet which is the same as oxy except oxy has no acetaminophen in it...oops did I spell that right? Anyways...I graduated to the oxy at 80 mg but i abused them by no fault of my own...Angela there is a way out of the high dosage witbout getting sick...i was taking 8 per day and sometimes 10...take yourself down with the aid of Kratom...go to Kratora and buy as much Maeng Da kratom as you can... Take at least 3 grams in about six ounces of OJ and that will certainly help...kratom acts like morphine and the withdrawals are only fatigue and minor chills for a couple days...I'm a former Special Forces soldier and i will not bulls*** you...kratom is amazing...as a matter of fact I still use it today on top of a very minor dosage of opiates supplied by the VA...I wish I could help more with the teeth issue as I have had to fight to keep mine intact...but first thing first...cut down on the amount of opiates with the help of the kratom...I wish you the best and I'll pray for you. Oh yeah one more thing about opiates...when you drop the dosage there is a nasty little thing called depression caused by the opiates. I not only had to deal with that but PTSD as well...You can do it ! As far as your teeth are concerned...most often with opiate tooth decay you will need implants or dentures...I am going for about 4 implants to keep my smile. Take care, best of luck!

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I agree, KKH, and especially in so far as combining "our" forum's specific POV and its purpose with ANY religious connection whatsoever. In so far as Matthew is concerned, I still feel that his attitude (Mr. Know It All.... Remember his statement re: I know more about medicine.... or words to that effect... than anyone on here.... as well as other similar statements) simply have NO PLACE WHATSOEVER on this forum. What say YOU, MR. MAILMAN?
Thanks, and I wish you the most painless, or better yet, pain FREE, days ahead as possible!!! Christine

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Nothing I said wasn't positive. I was an addict for 15 years to opioids and other things. I am one year off of Suboxone and benzos after being on heavy dosages for 8 years. I was only saying how I am clean. I don't agree with anyone judging anyone else. If you take pills, you are addicted...period. If you wanna call me telling people the answer to being clean preaching, then you could be right. I have known MANY addicts throughout the course of my life and 95% of them are still using, dead, or in prison. The only people I know of that break free are set free from Christ. That's the truth pure and simple. I am not talking about religion. I am talking about a relationship with Jesus Christ...He came and suffered and died so you could be free. It's all love.

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