Oxycontin Damaged My Teeth (Page 37) (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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oh forgot to put my myspace page in.
www.myspace.com/­petofpenthouse86

oh yes i as a model at one time, back in my younger days all my friends say i am still very beautiful if i could just get some teeth i could probably get off disability and go back into doing some modeling and help support my kids again you know.

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they are way to far away from me and being low income i cant afford the gas to travel to the only dental school i have heard of which is way up in northern michigan thats nearly 6 hours or more away from me, and being a single mom i cant travel away from my kids anyways, i just wish there was a local dentist in the area willing to let me make payments on some implants but none of them will they all want me to apply for their credit plans and i cant get approved for them as my credit got ruined a few years ago when someone stole my identity and now i have to pay a credit attorney to fix it every month for me but its going to take a while to get up to a good credit score again. but all i want is the chance to get some implants so i can eat again and smile again, as i never smile as it is and i dont date anymore.

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david where did you go for your teeth and did you have some implants too as thats what i need done though as the few bottom front teeth i do have left need to come out too but i have left them in only so i had a few to chew with. go to my myspace page and email me from there ok.

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i completely agree i think that the makers of oxycontin dont want customers knowing that it can cause teeth loss or they would put that in their descriptions and side effects of the med which they dont do everyone says well they warn of the dry mouth but i think legally they should be required to spell it out clearely for all customers by stating that in their warnings to the med they should have to state that this may cause total tooth loss which they havent done that. i wish there was an attorney out there that could take my case for me and sue for my tooth loss as i was never warned by anyone not the hospital and not the 20 doctors i have been to since starting this med no one has ever said that it caused tooth loss , they all said that they didnt know of any pain that would cause tooth loss i think they are all covering it up and trying to keep it hush hush about how much damage it does do to teeth. had i known i could loose my teeth i would never agreed to go on it, and of course once i started it my body got addicted to it, now they say if i go off of it that it would cause me much worse problems than my being on it, as i have seizures and if i go off i could develop my seizures back again that i used to have too. so i think that the makers of oxycontin should have to pay for me to have dental implants as i had perfect teeth before is started this med with only like 2 small cavities in them, i have a beautiful photo of me holding my sons with nice teeth on my refrigrator i look at everyday that was only 6 yrs ago too, then in only 6 months of starting this med i my teeth where being destroyed from the inside out my dentist said he had never seen anything this bad except in persons who did street drugs like herion or cocaine he said that he only saw the rotting from the inside out in those type of persons and he asked me if i did street drugs and i told him NO i didnt do street drugs i was only taking the meds prescribed to me which was my oxycontin, he was shocked he said oh my gosh he didnt know that it would destroy teeth like that he himself said they should have some warning on there about that, and i told him i know they should cause i would have rather suffered in pain and tried something else for pain rather than to have lost all my teeth. now i cant eat properly my health is much worse cause i cant eat healty foods i have to eat everything that is soggy or extrememly soft and most times soft foods are fattening foods too. so i have gained some weight on my small frame and its hard for me to have any extra weight on me with my arthritus it wears my joints down and hurts. my doctor says i really do need the implants quickly before i end up dying from not eating properly but i cant find anyone out there to help me financialy to get the teeth i need. plus i havent smiled in 5 yrs now i am to ashamed to smile because i believed the doctors when they said that oxycontin was the safest pain medication out there i was lied to or they where misinformed by the makers of the drug. i think the drug company doesnt want everyone to know what type of damage this med can do to the enamel in teeth so they are trying to blame it on others environmental factors when in reality its all due to the medication completely, seeing i have nice teeth for years then in 6 months of taking this med my teeth where so weak that even in the process of eating a soft sandwich my front top teeth just broke in half from being so weak form the meds stripping the teeth of all their calcium and enamel was so weak too. this is not right that the drug company is not required to put that warning on their med and that they are not requiring the pharmasist to tell the patients this before they fill the med and they arent required to have the doctors to tell their patients that they may end up loosing their teeth if they take this med i think if there is any attorney out there that wants to take my case i am prepared to fight this thru all the way up until the law makes them change their warnings to keep the other patients from having to go thru what have theres got to be someone out there with lots of money willing to help me willing to help an honest, loving, kind and generous single mother ME in helping to get some teeth so i can chew foods again and my health wont keep deteorating so fast, my kids want to see me healty too.

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57

Ellie Zarrabian, Ph.D. Says:
Sun, March 8, 2009

Hi all,
I had a chance to read all the discussions posted and wanted to say that I really appreciate how honest people are and how supportive of one another. It's great knowing that we can reach out to each other with out ever even having met each other.
I am a therapist and a holistic healer. I've been asked to join this listserve to offer support to people who are dealing with pain (physical or emotional) and to help out if I can. In reading many of these posts for the past couple of weeks I can tell you that there are many things in common with what people are saying about these meds, whether they are used for dealing with physical pain or emotional pain like anxiety and depression. Many of these meds can be of help at times, sometimes these meds can help bring people back from the dead, but other times, they cause tremendous amounts of pain and suffering because of the side effects. Most of you are right that these side effects are either not properly disclosed to the public or they are not tested long enough and the makers don't know the side effects themselves and unfortunately innocent people end up becoming guniea pigs.
Because of these terrible and at times life altering side effects, I always encourage people to do a lot of investigating and research before taking these meds and get second and third opinions before choosing to take them. But more so, I always advocate looking into alternative routes first when dealing with pain. Someone else also mentioned it...look into acupuncture, herbs, and an amazing technique called MBSR (minfulness based stress reduction). It's a meditation program (NOT medication) that was taught by this guy called Kabat Zinn to patients suffering from severe chronic pain and results over the years have shown to be very positive. These are all natural ways to deal with pain without having to resort of meds. It is also important to take care of the emotional and psychological pain that is inflicted after a trauma like car accident, surgeries, abuse, rape, death of a loved one, etc. Dealing with the emotional and psychological pain can help release the mental anguish and allow more joy and happiness to come into your life so that you can enjoy life as well. But many people try to do that with meds as well and again the vicious cycle of becoming dependent on these drugs and the side effects kick in. Psychotherapy and holistic healing are wasy to work with releasing mental trauma without resorting to drugs. Please feel free to respond to my post. I'd be happy to answer any questions.

Ellie Zarrabian, Ph.D.
California, United States
http://www.centeronpeace.com

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Able, I think you are being paranoid.A Federal agent would not be in the least bit interested with our discussions & as far as people ordering it illegally the agents handling those type of things do that directly through the person ordering it & the place that sells it. We are not here to obtain meds illegal, we are all just chatting with others that have the same problem as we do. About you saying people that are talking about selling it, we all know to ignore those posts as only idiots would give that kind of advice.

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Having read all comments related
to this subject I am suprised that
we, as readers and commentators,
are so ruthless and rush to judgement on those less fortunate.
It's obvious that, in this case; A.C.'s
people commenting herein for the most part are empathetic and support this woman. However, for you that wish to be critical....The worm turns..ie. Let's hope it doesn't happen to you.

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Yeah, they ruin your teeth. I watched my moms fall out like crazy. I haven't had too many problems yet.... I'd suggest you sell them babies. Hell for fifty a piece, what they go for, you can have that mouth fixed in no time at all. Maybe even some more plastic surgery.....

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I've recenty been taking oxy's and notice this same problem. One year and my teeth have almost completely dissapated. Your not alone. They all feel like their coming out, and somee have even fallen out. The most likely reason is that our breathing has stopped. Although there's not much research on it, breathing strengthens teeth (oxy's cause respiraory depression). To save your remaining teeth, keep practicing breathing excercises.

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i DO know who you are, but i have never asked for anyone to give me money with the promise to repay anyone, yes i have had some send me money to help me and my kids, but they never ever asked me to repay them, that would be pointless to offer me money and then turn around ask me to pay it back that would be not only rude thing to do, if you help someone out you dont ask for it back when you know they have no way to pay it back , i am low income, on ssi, and what little someone has ever sent me was so small it didnt even help much , usualy it was only enough to get a gallon of milk or a few groceries, so i want to know why you seem to wish to make me out to be some begger when i am not, you obviously dont know me personally, or you would know i am the kindest person, honest, and always up front i tell it like it is and have always been that way, so obviously you have a huge grudge on your shoulder but you dont know me. so to sit here and say i have several listing asking for help, theres nothing wrong with having several listing online, my gosh thats the great thing about the internet it lets everyone put out there in this world things that they may need help with. but obviously you walk thru life blaming others for your own personal grudges, and sounds like you just dont woman, so i have reported your statement on this site hopefully they remove your rude and unnecessary remarks about me which are extrememly untrue.

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I am 56 years old and was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma, a rare cancer, in early 2005. I had two surgeries and lost 1/3 of my lower right arm to the tumor that had grown there. I had a skin graft and radiation. There is no chemo that works for my cancer - it is always fatal.
The drs. put me on Oxycontin in 2005 after my surgeries, etc. I had never taken pain meds in my life. I worked for 34 years and had a great job and a great life.
I spent every dime I saved in my 40lK (almost $500,000) on my cancer treatment. I have lost EVERYTHING I owned - don't even have a car, cell phone, cable TV, etc.
Now on top of all that, I am losing my beautiful teeth, also. I had to have 2 root canals in the last 5 months and I developed white spots on my two front teeth and two lower ones in the front. After two months, the white spots broke off and my teeth are crumbling. I used to date my endodontist (a great guy who did my root canals for nothing) and he told me it is DEFINITELY from the opioid meds. He said there is nothing I can do now - it's too late.
I, too, was very attractrive and had gorgeous teeth. Now I don't leave my house either because I am too ashamed. I don't have the $3000 I need to fix those teeth and others are starting to crumble. The perfect credit rating that I had for 40 years is gone like my teeth - CARE credit wouldn't even loan me the money and I worked for GE (who owns it) for 14 years!
Just wanted to tell you that I truly empathize with you. It is horrible to lose one's teeth. I truly, truly would rather be dead than have dentures.

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it's bc after reading and going through her Myspace I have come to conclusion she is a con artist. Read this and you'll see for sure what I am thinking.

freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/991264/posts

Intrestingly enough none of her links work to her supposed charity she runs either.

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I saw the news story and cried... this is what I am going through as well. You are not alone. I was never warned. I even recently sent my doctor an email asking her why this was happening after my dentist told me it was most likely from the meds. The pharmacy paperwork that kaiser gives out for each med also never has stated dental issues (I just rechecked). I saw the dentist in July for some major work done and was supposed to get more but money was an issue, and now half a year later, I can easily see/feel holes in every tooth. I am 32 years old, single and doubt I will ever date again because my mouth looks like a heroine addicts... I don't know what to do... I have been very close to getting them all pulled and dentures made, but I can't afford those either. If only I had known.... I don't know if I would have not taken them, it was legit reasons, and still is, but I would try for something else or less time etc. I am angry and upset

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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?

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I am so very happy right now and glad, too, that i just happened to check my email inbox before trying to get some sleep. I actually have the biggest smile on my face, but only because I'm alone and no one can see my teeth ... LOL... In any case and like my earlier post said, I will volunteer to be the single point of contact, to which Medschat has so generously allowed some leniency of their policy so we can all come together, get organized, and get a plan in place in order to achieve our common goal!!! :-D ... So, let me get with this site to find out what they need from me and how to proceed from here so I can share my contact information with y'all, okay? Sorry.... Getting very sleepy now, but I'll get back to y'all as soon as i have more information. And, again, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, MEDSCHAT, for listening to our stories, our pain, and our only wish.... To be able to smile again, even when it seems like we don't have a whole lot to smile about. Good night and God bless you all! Christine

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THANK YOU, MAILMAN, FOR PUTTING YET ANOTHER HUGE SMILE ON MY FACE :-) .I'LL BE IN TOUCH!

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Everyone I am a professional nurse and published researcher.

Any DRUG in particular opioids, antidepressants, and some of the ridiculous anti seizure medications used for pain (which only increase your seizure threshold and cause weight gain like Neurontin) will REDUCE saliva which causes extreme dental erosion.

Get your pain specialist and dentist to document this for your WC and PIP insurers to pay for the high cost of all the work you will need.

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Ali you won't find the warning because they do not presume anyone would be on opioids for life as most of us must be.

A short week or so post op won't cause dental erosion see?

Peace out.

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I've never heard of such tooth damage, but that's such a shockingly high dosage, I'm not surprised to hear it's doing something bad to your body. Try a different doctor.

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Don't know you but wish you the best stay on it I thought no new was good news once and it was a mix up from a big city Hosp. I was floored when oncology called me, I immediately said, "oncology do I have cancer?" Sometimes hospitals and docs can be overwhelming. The only way out is through I look at it we are in Gods hands and most of us are going to get something, just when. Maybe it's goi g to be ok it's 50-50 take it as good news that doc hadn't seen anything like that.

Please keep us posted we all help one another here, I will say a prayer for good news. This to shall pass. We never get more then we can handle in one day. Peace and serenity to you.

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