Oxycontin Damaged My Teeth (Page 34)

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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I just returned from the dentist's office. This was my second opinion. I had a work related injury which caused me to habe to have 2 back surgeries and 1 neck surgery( two discs replaced in the neck, two fusion in the low back and a thoracic disc they can't due anything about. Eighty seven % disabled. Which brings me in about 20,000 a year. Quite a bit less than what I used to make. I'm only sayying this because my two dental quotes were 10,000 dollars each. My teeth were fine until I started taking oxycodone and oxycotine.

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Hello everyone, I haven't been on here for awhile because I have been totally miserable from trying to cut my medication down and I had nothing to write that would have helped anyone here. With the depression and pain I've been feeling I haven't had much positive to say to anyone! I do remember the first time I found this site there was only a handful of people here and that is when I met Christine. She was going threw some of things I was going threw but she never judged me and I never did her. So when I was reading threw some of the past posts on here and seen where not only her but other people to had to defend what was going on in there lives made me angry! The way I see it is people come to this site to help each other and give each other information that you went threw so maybe it makes it easier when they have to go threw the same thing. Or when we find a way to come together to get our teeth fixed. What I saw was people passing judgement on someone else and that is wrong! If someone has a way to help others that is a great thing but if anyone here thinks they have a right to make someone feel worse or judge someone else I think this isn't the group for you! You are supposed to help someone by what you went threw so maybe it makes what they are dealing with a little easier! Christine if I can help you or anyone else in a positive way I will because you have already done that for me!

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I have been in pain mgmt 19 yrs. I for years took a very high dose of oxycontin. Due to insurance running out 1 time and I could not afford oxycontin, I switched to 100 MGR ms contin, because 100 was cheaper than 90, or 60 mg..actually that was the best thing that could of happened. It's a much better medication, lasts way longer without the feeling of withdrawls every morning. i have been lucky with Dr's overall. never had 1 that won't give me my medicine, and percocet. They understand. I have practical application knowledge vs book knowledge. I think If your in tune and have complete knowledge of your medication, and actually can have a conversation with your dr or practitioners you will have more sucess. if you look around your Dr office, you see the number of patients doubling, and a big part of them are the ones selling. they have the look of people who are diversion people. also with people mixing, alcohol, alcoholism, overdoseing, drs get scared. no one can blame them. perhaps going to a more elite clinic, where referrals are mandatory, and they contact patients to say they will take them on is the way to go...there are less patients, less worry, and more sucess getting your meds. Your backround will have some bearing, they are not fools. They know how many times you've been kicked out of pain drs and your pharmacy history will matter. Among other things, soma, xanax, valuim also raise some red flags, and Dr's may not want to contribute to a potential problem; and also are you functioning? coming in clean, dressed nice or like a bum, or just sitting at home taking drugs? These all influence drs evaluation and decision on prescribed meds.....if you are clean, show you both respect, you and Dr go in dressed nice showered, show you are not just existing and waiting for next month script..be productive as much as you are able..all of these things are looked at..believe me..19 yrs of experience with successful Dr visits and medications.

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HI, MAILMAN!!!! SO very nice to "hear" from you again and, yes, it's definitely been awhile since you've been on the site. That being said, I, too, have been kind of staying away because of some people who seemed to have found just about ANYTHING other to talk about than what this forum was supposed to be and it just brought the majority of us who REALLY got it going in the right direction and did nothing but bring the rest of us DOWN! Things seem to have gotten a bit better, though, and I believe that they've been pretty much SHUT DOWN and indirectly thrown out, if you know what I mean! Things are pretty much the same with me for the time being but just recently, as of my last pain med refill, I had a VERY difficult time getting my meds refilled and, get this, they would absolutely NOT call ANY of their other pharmacies to find out if they had any! You would THINK that if the call is coming from one of their OWN pharmacies that they would at least check their stock to find out if they could fill it so I wouldn't have to drive all over town to find one that did, right? No chance! That being said, I simply got on the phone myself and did what I had asked them to do and, with the exception of ONE CVS pharmacy out of well over a dozen that I had called, each and every one of them HAD NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER checking their stock to advise me as to whether or not they could fill my Rx. Interesting because my own pharmacy told me that NOT ONE OF THEIRS WOULD EVER TELL ME OVER THE PHONE WHETHER OR NOT THEY COULD. Then, to make things worse, even if one (or more) of them even had any, they wouldn't allow me to purchase a partial Rx and then come back for the rest when they got more in stock! I was really stuck with only 6 tablets left to last me until this coming Thursday (I take a minimum of 9-12 a day!) and I was really stressing! Then I thought about calling my Pain Management Dr. and asked them if they had any pharmacies nearby (they happen to be across the street from a major hospital, so you would think they'd more than likely have them in stock (Oxycodone, that is) so I ended up calling an independent pharmacy who, although they had some in stock, they only had 113 of the 360 that I needed! HOWEVER, and this is why it's sometimes best to use an independent/owner operated pharmacy, they not only filled my Rx with what they had, but said that they would order and call me just as soon as they received the balance of the medication I so desperately needed!.... something NONE of the other pharmacies would even consider! So.... Just a thought for anyone who might find themselves in a similar situation, be sure to check out your local owner operated/independent pharmacy as they can make their OWN RULES and are MUCH MORE ACCOMODATING than many, if not most, of the "big box" Rx stores. I hope that you're doing well, Mailman, and I also hope than some, if not all, of the original folks from this forum decide to come back so we can all bring it back to its full glory and one that supports one another. Much love and praying for one, or more, pain free day! Hugs.

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Hi Christine, it's great to hear from you and I am sorry to hear you were put threw such a tuff time and let you know I went threw the same thing and you are right when you said having only 6 left and you don't know where you are going to be able to get refilled is really a scary situation!! I wish no one would ever have to go threw that. I have been exercising and stretching and soon as I think I am going forward I take 2 steps back. Then it just rips the rug out from under me and I become depressed and angry because I must rest for days until i get my feet back under me. My doctor just gave me my paperwork to send to Comp because I have to go to their doctor again after 19 years of this and to date I have gotten 20553 injections in my back so I don't have to take more medicine than what I have been able to keep it to. It is always great to hear from you Christine. I wish everyone here a pain free day and keep strong!

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What about being responsible for your own body when using drugs. People take the drugs that kill them because they lack self control. Why complain to a doctor about pain if you're unwilling to use pain control medication. There is nothing else.

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Hi Angela, I take pain meds on a daily basis. I don't know where you are from but, but I got a set of dentures, a full set mind you for under 500 dollars. I had to wait all day to get them, but it was well worth the wait. Now I can smile and not be embarrassed to go out in public to eat.

{edited for privacy}.

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Hey, Smoochie! Where are you located and how did you manage to get a full set of dentures for such a low, affordable price?!? Thanks! Christine

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Hi I wanted to know if you live in nj or ny area bc im looking for pain managemt doctor since mine left the practice and no one I hav called is taking new patients. Im in severe chronic pain everyday and im out of my medications and can't keep going back n forth to the hospital anymore. Thank you in advance.

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OxyContin, Morphine and Norco damaged my teeth severely. My girlfriend in her 40's had to get dentures due to her drugs for back fusions. I was fortunate enough to have the $50,000.00 for 9 implants. I got real sick of having Drs lie to me and shoving these meds on me for chronic pain so I had a neurostimulator put in for my pain relief. No more damaging drugs, no more doctors. I'm in control of my pain now drug free.

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Hey Christine, I am from Springfield Missouri and I got my teeth at a place in My. Vernon No not to far from me aboutb 27 miles, I called around here in Springfield and the prices for a set of dentures we're ridiculous, so I found this place from a bill board sign and it said lowest prices for dentures and the sign was right, very affordable and I am very happy with them.

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Any drug like opiates or prescription diet pills will give you what they call dry mouth. You need moisture or saliva to protect your teeth. If your mouth is dry all the time bacteria will stay there and eat on your teeth.

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Hi Angela,

I wondered if you smoke cigarettes. I have been on pain meds since 1999. I started smoking in my early 20's, I'm over sixty now and never had cavities, I always had teeth cleaned and examined annually, but when I hit 55, I lost my first molar and then the other molars. Not sure about the contin causing it. I just assumed it was my smoking. I quit for 12 years and picked the nasty habit back up when I injured my back and stayed home. I'll have to search your question. I have put a small fortune into my new veneers. Yikes!!!!

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Thank You!! Very well said.. It's a shame that there Always has to be that 1 individual that feels the need to get online and say rude and demeaning comments! Especially after reading that everyone was placed on these medications due to Severe Injury.

I stumbled upon this thread because I too am in the same situation. I have been on Oxycontin since 2009, I have a disease in My Spine and then a Auto-immune disease as well. My teeth began rotting and are having to come out one at a time, was told I have Periodontal disease. But Wow, rapid decay and all bad! I have been suffering the last 3 years really bad with them, especially not having dental insurance with My Medicare. Trying every option to get dental coverage that I could afford on Social Security Disability. With all the Many medications being recalled or suits against them, you would think there was something that could be done.

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Hi Christine, I found that Aleve or Doans Pill's work very well. The Doans is actually for your back. You could also try 800 mg of Ibuprofen that is an antiinflammatory pill, as well as an OTC pain med. If at all possible ask your Dr if you could have Parafon Forte DSC. This would be a muscle and skeletal relaxer, works very well for me, but others are different. It wouldn't hurt to try. I take 1 to 1/2 tab as needed 4× a day. It's well worth trying anyways or if not that maybe some Piroxicam; it also is an antiinflammatory pill. If your Dr will let you have either and neither work then I would for sure have your back checked again because if nothing is taking the pain away, something is wrong somewhere. Good luck hun and i hope you get some relief soon.

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Thanks, Smoochie, for all of your suggestions! Christine

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No problem Christine,any time if i gotta an idea I will share it with all you all,im here to help and can always give suggestions.

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Hi, I read your story. I am having the same problem but I am losing healthy teeth. I'm devastated. I lost my bottom front tooth and it was healthy tooth!! I have it to show anyone. My back teeth also have broke off at gum line. I am taking 40 mg oxycontin. I have had teeth coming out since I have been taking it. There should have been a warning that if you take it your teeth will fall out. I take the rubber (that the only way I know to describe it) I wondered if that made man material is what's hurting our teeth. I also wonder what could it do to our body's? My bones hurt so bad. Can anyone help? Should we seek legal council ...seriously, I want to talk to attorney. I have no dental insurance. My doctor says see my dentist when I ask for them to run diagnostics to see what could be causing my healthy teeth to just break and I can't smile anymore. I've cried for days. I live in Jacksboro TN. Does anyone else live in my area because we need to file a legal case. I am gona make them fix my teeth. They should have a warning. Please anyone contact me {edited for privacy}. Let's get back what was took from us. This has caused me depression. It has took my self confidence away. Anyone going thru this we need legal help. I am getting an attorney.... God Bless.

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Ok!! Now I need help from all of you, your doctors/or pharmacists who might be able to clear up a question I now have about the multiple types/appearance of the 30mg Oxycodone tabs that I've been recently been receiving from a new pharmacy that is not only close to my doctor's office, but who will also make sure that they have the quantity I need directly after receiving my Rx/after my appointment.

I JUST received a manual pill counter that I ordered (so I could keep track of, and control how many pills I was taking) and, when I started counting them, I happened to notice that not only were the pills two different colors (which had been explained to me by the pharmacy that they were simply made by different manufacturers). HOWEVER, after I began to take a closer look at the white (different... Not blue) pills, I noticed that, instead and aside from the color difference as well as numbers (but blank on the other side) separated by a cross hatch, the WHITE ONES, although being blank on one side, HAS THE NUMBER 15 ON THE OTHER!!! IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THIS NEW PHARMACY IS..... HMMMM.... HOW CAN I SAY THIS W/O USING A CUSS WORD.... ARE THEY SUBSTITUTING 15mg PILLS FOR MY FULL RX OF 30mg pills? Does ANYONE KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION? Oh, and the other thing is that I've NEVER gotten constipated with my "regular" prescription but I have with these and, NO, they don't seem to be near as effective as my original pills were, either. ANY ADVICE ANYONE CAN GIVE ME WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED AND, IF I'M RIGHT, WHAT RECOURSE WOULD I HAVE AGAINST THIS NEW PHARMACY? OH, AND BEFORE I FORGET, THE ACTUAL PHARMACIST INSISTED THAT I HAVE SOME OF MY OTHER RX`s FILLED IN HIS PHARMACY FROM WHERE I USUALLY GET THEM!

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Hi Christine,

From what you are saying i'm guessing yes on what you said or you could look that pill up for yourself on the internet. I do that with every pain pill i get because for one they seem to always short me out of some, but when I say anything I'm always wrong and they are always right, it sounds like to me that the new pharmacy you are using has some crooked people working in there. I would take the bottle of pills back to the pharmacy and i would point that directly out to the pharmacist. That is not fair to you at all and from what you are saying you are probably right. If they don't want to fix this problem then the next best thing to do is get ahold of someone in the drug enforcement where you live. I wrote the governor of our state and to my surprise he emailed me back and told me that the DEA is keeping an eye on this new law they put out here. To make a long story short I could no longer get my Xanax because I was taking pain meds, then about 2 months later I got to get them back, all i had to do is sign a waiver. But back to your questions, I would try what I first suggested then if that doesn't work then I would contact the drug enforcement; and my pain meds do constipate me as well, but my Dr also gives me magnesium sulfate for it and it works really well and you can buy it over the counter. I hope this helps you out some and i hope you can get something done about this.

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