Oxycontin Damaged My Teeth (Page 35) (Top voted first)

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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Still having more teeth get loose but EVEN WORSE, I got totally blindsided by my pain management physician at today's appointment when she DISCHARGED ME from her practice!!! WHY? Because for the second time this year, when my blood tests came in (routine tests for alcohol and/or other illicit/unauthorized drugs in my system) they ALL CAME BACK NEGATIVE, even though I'd taken my regular dose of Oxycontin about five hours prior to the blood draw! So.... since it's happened twice before, she has assumed that instead of taking my meds as prescribed (which I've always done!) that in fact I'm NOT TAKING THEM AND THAT I'M SELLING THEM INSTEAD!!! I'm simply beside myself because, #1- I now have to find another pain doctor and, MUCH WORSE, there's now going to be a VERY NEGATIVE cloud over me for whoever I'm going to be referred to as being of questionable character!!! Who's going to want to take me as a patient when my last doctor has virtually branded me as a "drug dealer" because my blood work has come back as negative on everything INCLUDING the Oxycodone??? What the neck am I going to do now? ANY ADVICE that anyone might be able to give me would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks.

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This has happened to me as well! All of my top teeth have had to be removed and all but 8 of my bottom but have now list 2 of those and counting.My teeth have ALWAYS been clean white &healthy never had a cavity until
Age 28 and have kept up with all recommended preventative routine dental care only 2 cavities until regular use of the pain med.I do NOT OR HAVE NOT USED OR ABUSED DRUGS/STREET DRUGS.I do have Lupus diagnosed 8-9 yrs ago & thought mabe it was the culprit but now I believe with all my heart it was/is the Oxycontin. I have had thinning hair as well,while again have always had long thick full healthy hair,the longer I take
med the worse it looks,until 2 weeks ago... after trying evetything under the sun &spending a fortune,I decided to give up the fight and cut it all off ! :( I have been so Devastated! As if living &dealing with almost non stop pain,sleeplessness and discomfort every day and having a life that revolves around monthly rx refills before you can plan anything or go away and being at a physicians mercy forever just hoping he is in a decent mood before every appt.or worse yet praying he is doing things legitimately so that you go back to him only to find his office has been shut down,& hoping everyone you must deal with treats you with just a little compassion &respect instead of a dirty drug adict is not bad enough!!! So i was wondering about how many others have you discovered suffering this same sad misfortune &horror?

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Don't you think we should get help from the NHS to get implants, we were put on these drugs with absolutely no knowledge we'd lose our teeth? It's not in the list of side affects, our GPs didn't tell us until locking the stable door after the horse had bolted! I've been on these prescribed drugs for many years but only found out about a month ago about the tooth decay or breaking teeth! Surely we have a case here? I've given up on life as I'm so ashamed! I'm talking & writing to people on social media that although are a least 20yrs my senior, they have their own teeth! Lots of people who want to get in touch with me, I make up an excuse the same when I'm invited to an event, I miss these people so much but I can't face them! I've become agoraphobic also I have a fear of seeing people too! Ok I'm not able to walk because of very painful lower back problems, but I've cancelled all my appointments! I'm too ashamed because of my teeth! So someone must be to Blair? & culpable to pay for implants!

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omg!!! Same thing is happening to me. They keep takingmy short term país meds away and they raise my ms contins!! Im losing All my teeth and from the gum line. There fine on top . Its the craziest n paínful Thing.

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Sorry to hear about your situation. I to had beautiful white healthy teeth then about the age of 35 I started getting cavities, rotten and my teeth would be fine and within 2 weeks would be so loose. My dentist was also stumped. He too asked me if I was doing drugs or had HIV. Within a year I had lost all my upper teeth and 3 in the back of my lower. Today I have a full upper and lower set. I'm 53. But in 2007 I learned that I have Lupus SLE which can cause havoc on the teeth and gums and mouth. Since the Lupus wasn't being treated my bone were loosing it's strength and my teeth were becoming loose. Now I hadn't been sick to the point of extra medical issues it was discovered during a different routine. Did fine until 2011 and Lupus started showing its ugliness. You may want to check that out. Check your local health centers. They may have some info that can help with your situation. Good luck and Blessings.

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I am going through the same thing and I don't know where to go to get help. It's not fair that not to.be in pain you take this and then you are blamed that this happens to your teeth. Someone should help.

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I have told my story about this dangerous drug (Oxycontin & Oxycodone) many times on this site but many more people are leaving messages about losing their teeth, so I will tell it again!!! I've been on these drugs since 1996, shortly after they came out. In fact, the Rep for Purdue was in my Dr.'s office the day of my visit and he informed me that he had just been told about a new narcotic THAT WAS NON-ADDICTIVE!!! Of course I was interested, since I had just been diagnosed with SLE (Lupus) and was in so much pain I couldn't continue to work. Of course, the Rep failed to tell my Dr. that a one month supply of 60-40mg. pills were going to cost me $700!!! The sad part was that they were so effective that I felt like I was going to get some of my life back. So what did I do??? I borrowed money from family, went through my entire savings, etc. just to afford these pills every month. I was so stupid & so misinformed!!! I have now been on a 20+ year rollercoaster with these drugs pretty much ruining every aspect of my life. They are indeed very addictive, and back when I began taking them, there was no mention in their lists of side effects of your teeth rotting out of your head!!! I was a fairly attractive woman but now with no teeth in my head, I'm too embarrassed & humiliated to go and try to find help. I beg anyone taking these drugs to really consider what you're doing to yourself. If you're like me, with the massive amounts of pain I suffer with on a daily basis, you have no choice. One other thing I'd like to mention is you need to consider that if you ever have any other type of painful illness or any type of accident, no hospital in the world will be able to give you enough pain meds even to keep you comfortable. I've since has two surgeries and two operations, and I felt like I was dying. When I told my Dr. after having my Gallbladder removed how much pain I was in, he rudely chuckled and said that was what he had been trying to warn me about for years. In regard to my teeth, it took 13 years before my teeth starting falling out of my head. Literally. Within four months, I had lost all but three of my teeth. I had never even had one cavity in my life. I'm so sorry for all of the people on this site and others who are suffering with this horrible problem. But please don't be like me and practically become housebound because your too embarrassed to get help. Thank you for taking time to read this.

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I think we should get help with implants for the med companies. We have to take these meds and if we don't who now what could happen
I would think that there is away to get help with implants. I have never had teeth problems until my meds depression anxiety chronic neck and back pain several surgeries and more. We had no choice we took them to have a somewhat normal life.

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Hi Valerie, have you managed to get any help with your teeth yet? OMG I've got a back molar which has a nerve exposed right now, it's so painful, but I won't go anywhere through my own sheer disgust & embarrassment! This isn't the first painful tooth, some seemed to disintegrate, some incisors just snapped, I got to know the signs first I'd feel a ridge at the back of my tooth, I knew it was going to break soon & I was right! After they broke they seemed to rot away, I haven't looked in a mirror for years because of this! I've been through an entire page of dentists that won't help, then I collected a few numbers for no win no fee solicitors, but I wouldn't want to go to court, not that much exposure! I still turn the TV over every time an advert regarding teeth come on & Ive had people posting old pictures of me online, I'm laughing in all of them & my teeth were so beautiful, you know there's something they give to dogs Dentastix to make their teeth stronger, I have to switch over quickly! I've been reading a lot of rules regarding implants, apparently if you've had an accident they'll give you free implants but they need proof from the hospital that treated you! I feel terrible for those people but we were given a drug with no warning of tooth loss! I believe we have a case but I don't know where to start! My local dentist can do implants at £1500 0% Apr but for the amount of teeth I'd need I'd never be able to pay it back plus I'd get turned down as I'm unable to work because I can't walk! So I'm stuck between a rock & a hard place! I hope you get some good news soon Hun, really I do, wishing you well luv Don xxx

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So very sorry! Lupus sucks and I'm in the same position as you. What I hate is the metal taste in my mouth. I've lost so much weight that the semi permanent dentures are loose after a only a year. Your all in my thoughts

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Hello. I got the plastic. I still have a dry dull taste but I sure that's mainly all the meds (36 pills a day). You may want to check into the plastic and my Dentist have me come in once a yr, unless I have other issues and checks my gums (make sure I have no gum disease and how they are fitting for any adjustments. You may want to give yours a call. Good Luck.

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I have had the same problem all I want is them to pay for implants its only right.

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I was litterally being killed by my old pain management doctor. The amount of oxycontin she had me on. I forced her to switch me off and started instead being prescribed. Oxymorphone HCL IR, and Opana ER. much more effective as well as the lesser of two evils as to damage to my body. Bad part is the effects of all the multiples of various Severe pain medications, having to now get testosterone injections due to the adverse side effects of mefications. Also after 13 straight continuously medicating, the teeth are now crumbling and loosen and serveral have broken and fallen out.

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It happened the same way my teeth showed no signs they just rotted from the inside out.

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I had no problem w/ OXY UNTIL they added a coating to prevent crushing. That coating upset stomach and began tooth chipping. Things in the stomach flow up the esophagus to your mouth. Damage is done but I will never use coated meds
ever again..which includes all meds marked as ED-extended release.
I get 3 medical journals and all three mentions problems w/. coating and tooth decay or chipping. I believe this because the journals were very respected.

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I also was told I must have been lying. Oxycontin manufacturers couldn't sell them if it caused tooth rot and loss! Well guess what? It does, and they knew then and know now... All about the Benjamins!!!

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Watch out.........................................................................................ok?

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I haven't posted in quite a few months (and, HEY, if you're still out there/following this thread, HI, MAILMAN!) due to the ongoing depression this issue has caused me as well as the increased responsibility I've had to take on due to my Mom's worsening dementia (which only helps to deepen my depression). That having been said, I recently had one of my two front teeth literally break in half so I can't smile at all anymore! And, shortly before that happened, the tooth three teeth behind that one literally broke off right at the gum line. I no longer have ANY lower molars so I can no longer chew, either, and the ONLY way I can try to chew at all is by using the one upper front tooth and the few lower front teeth I still have left! I know it won't be much longer before I completely lose my ability to eat anything that requires chewing unless I can find a dentist who's willing to help me out either pro bono or at a greatly reduced fee. Unfortunately, I don't think that's ever going to happen. Bless everyone who's going through this.... No fun and no hope, especially dreaming that big pharma will ever place our lives over their profits and step up to do THE RIGHT THING! Christine

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I just Happened to view the very first response to this forum's original post and what immediately came to my attention is the statement this response made, something to the effect that she had NO course of action against the pharmaceutical company (Purdue, in particular) because she, and others, accepted the risks..... in our case, our teeth rotting/falling out..... as it was warned in its patient instruction sheet. Actually, THAT'S NOT TRUE! Oh, perhaps it is now (dry mouth, etc.) However it most certainly was NOT included in the patient information literature when I, and MANY others, began taking their ridiculously HIGH DOSAGE prescriptions of opiates (again, and in particular, Purdue!) SO.... as far as I'm concerned, as it SHOULD BE in the legal community, PURDUE SHOULD STILL BE LIABLE FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR TEETH!!!!

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Hi, Nancy..... OMG!!! When I read your post it read like I could have written it myself! I, too, suffer from sciatica, as well as abdominal pain, and my pain management doctor is also planning to perform a nerve ablation which frankly scares me to death and I've already had four back surgeries, including a fusion. I had been on Oxycontin for more than ten years and, for the last few years, I was being prescribed 360mgs A DAY (3 30mg tabs 4 times a day!). Then, suddenly, my doctor got it in her head that I was selling my drugs and totally cut me off! WHY she got that idea, I have NO CLUE but in the end I couldn't find another PM doctor who would give me ANY of them much less the dosage I had been on for so long! Long story short, I was forced to go through withdrawal ALL BY MYSELF, no help whatsoever and not even support from my primary care physician! It wasn't until later, after I had made it through the withdrawal, that I found out that going through the withdrawal by myself could have killed me! It was bad enough that, like you and everyone on this forum, I had lost most all of my teeth, but to them have the medical community suddenly turn on me and turn their backs on me, too, the same ones who PRESCRIBED them to me, was devastating! So I know how you feel and what you're going through!

Nancy, I tried to organize the members of this forum in order to try and file suit against the big pharma (Perdue, in particular), but amazingly I couldn't get much cooperation even though I was the one willing to do all the leg work. So, I wish you luck in your endeavor, and I most certainly would join you but, as I've already experienced, you'll need to be able to get a lot more members involved than I was able to.

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