Oxycontin Damaged My Teeth (Page 35)

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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REPORT

I, like most of you, also understand this concept/fact, HOWEVER!, it was only WELL REPORTED and recognized AFTER those of us who began experiencing the tooth decay and or/loss that any information regarding the connection began to surface in the medical community, much less the mainstream media! THAT'S WHERE MY ISSUE REMAINS!!!! They are, and have been hiding behind the fact that, even IF they had included "dry mouth" as a side effect (which, if it was even included, much less OF COURSE, done so) without ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Or what having dry mouth might have on one's teeth/oral health! There's NO DOUBT IN MY MIND that this can be proven, not only against the pain medication manufacturers, but against any and all of the manufacturers of any drug that also causes, dry mouth!!!

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Immediately take all your pain meds from that pharmacy to another, OUT of the area pharmacy and ask them to clarify exactly what they are. And bring someone with you like a parent or some other respected adult and DEFINITELY DO NOT tell anybody about what youre doing. IF there is some type of BS going on you need to make sure nobody suspects anything or they will just cover their asses somehow. Youre not alone, many people get screwed over by corrupt pharmacies and doctors that use patients naivity to their advantage and of course profit off them while pulling their scam. Your meds may be just a different brand, cheaper generic type that is not as strong, maybe even placebos given to you on purpose under instruction from your doctor, or maybe there is another reason, But above all else its very important that you know exactly what youre taking and not take something that is different then what 1. You expect to be taking and 2. Isnt harmful to you in any way and 3. You get what youre supposed to for your pain of course, it is the reason youre taking them above all else.
IF you learn of some BS happening then definitely have whoever is guilty charged and prosecuted bigtime, thats some lowdown cruel dirty crap to pull on an innocent patient.......
Hope it turns out not to be a messed up situtation for you......

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All drugs that cause dry mouth will lead to what people call methamphetamine mouth! You can brush your teeth until they bleed but evenually you will loose them if you're taking opiates, methadone/pharmacuitical amphetamines/preludin/prescription diet pills.

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Thank you, Steve and Smoochie, for your advice! I really appreciate it and I'll keep y'all posted!

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My pleasure. Hope everything works out and youre spared any nightmares or problems.

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I too have had this same problem. I knew it was the Oxycontin that rotted my teeth. I had perfect teeth before using this medication. I'm sorry you have had to go through all of your trials with surgery, I feel for you. I would be interested in getting a legal suit started against Purdue Pharmacy. They need to be held accountable for not warning the public about tooth decay caused by use of their medication. I too, would have reconsidered it's use. Please keep me informed if you come across more about this or would like to contact Purdue to start complaints. If there are more of you out there, please message me. Again, we shouldn't of had to experience this when we have already been through so much.

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It is the dry mouth that causes tooth decay. The medication causes dry mouth and the dry mouth causes tooth decay.

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I to took the dreaded oxycontin & didnt even reLize my teeth were rotting away in till it was to late. Also got addicted to it & was not a fun experience getting off of it, which I did myself with my Drs. Advise. I never want to see another oxycontin pill!!! Yes I still have pain from a back injury from a cat wreck I was in. Recently had to have nerve ablation done which thankfully got rid of the really bad pain. I just wish there was something for pain I still have that a Dr. would write me a prescription for but that will never happen now.

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My story is just about the same as yours. I went on OxyContin after having surgery. With in 2 yrs of being on oxycontin I lost all of my teeth. They rotted from the inside out. I did get dentures, but due to the fact that I can't wear them (the bone ridge in my mouth is to shallow), I eat very little. I have lost weight because, I eat a lot of ice cream and thing that don't have to don't chew. I'm so very unhappy now, that all I do is cry. I don't smile anymore. I don't go places with my husband, then he get mad at me. If I would have known that OxyContin was going to that my teeth, I would have never used it. There ought to be a warning om the bottle to let people about this, and give the choice, of not taking this drug or try another. I wish some one would start a class action suite against them.

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It rotted my teeth. They had me take 180 Percocet tens a month for three and a half years. 7 years later I'm still having teeth issues

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The pills side effects caused you to lose your teeth my toothless friend. When you take these pills one of the many side effects is "muck mouth" or dry mouth which causes your enamel to break down and over time it causes your teeth to rot.

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Whats so strange is how it seems to rot the teeth from within. Mine just began to crumble and fall apart in rather big pieces. I'm just wondering if this is the only I'll effects of this medicine. Also, I'm curious if the new formulation was the culprit? I started with the old wax matrix 80's, I didn't notice my problem during that time. It was only when I was forced by my pharmacy to make the switch. Noticed rightaway how less effective they are. Been unhappy since the conversion and less all my teeth. So, not only am I still in pain due to spinal problems but, teeth gone and govt. messing with dispensing of pain pills. I feel ####ed over. Would I have said no to Oxy if I had known? I really cant say, because they do help with my pain. Just wish I could eat a steak, damnit.

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In January this year I went to the dentist for a check up and was told I had 1 cavity and a cracked filling that needed repaired. I have been on pain medication for chronic pain for years and no issues. I had surgery and the pain doctor tried various long acting pain medication. In January 2016 I started using the Butran weekly patch. Since then all my teeth have deteriorated and I have to pull all of them and get dentures. I was told by the dentist that the medication I was taking caused severe dry mouth which caused rapid tooth decay. The dentist said it was like drinking 10 bottles of Mountain Dew a day and not brushing your teeth. It now is costing me about $7000 to get oral surgery and dentures. I always took great care of my teeth and feared losing them. They have started falling out. Why can attorneys take on the drug companies for all the bad side effects that occur to someone unless it is your teeth? If I had known of this side effect I would never have taken the medicine. I hope no one else had to go through this. It is mentally, physically and financially stressful.

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Yes I find this to be utterly ridiculous. Why do you think it is not printed on the warning label, because people would find an alternative and demand alternative medications such as marijuana like we have in the state of Colorado. I am looking online and found this because I'm experiencing the same thing. I am 47 and have lost most of my teeth in the last 6 years when others in my family all still have most of their teeth without any problems and mine are exactly as you said, dying and rotting from the inside out. It is very emotionally devastating and depressing even to have false teeth especially when you take good care of your teeth, do not smoke or do not do drugs that cause your teeth to fall out until you were forced on medications due to an injury. We know why they do not put it on there. Millions and Billions and trillions of reasons why, called DOLLAR$!!!!

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I had some dental problems after taking oxycontin for chronic pain. Once I bought hydrogen peroxide mix half with water and rinse out your mouth twice daily; it will remove tartar that rots your teeth it is the main ingredient in whitening toothpastes. Also I take muti-vitamins calcium supplements; and I make sure I drink 8 bottles of water daily and other drinks such as gatorade; juices; etc. Take good care of your teeth and don't let your mouth get dry. I always bring a bottle of water everywhere I go; and once I did all the things listed above; my teeth stopped getting bad. I forgot to mention, go to the dentist on a regular basis and catch the cavities when small and get your teeth cleaned! If you don't the tartar that is hard will rot your teeth; a small cavity will get large and you will lose that tooth. Yes, medicine can dry out your mouth; so make sure you do extra things that worked for me, so you keep your teeth in good condition! Also, your skin if it is dry you are dehydrated. The water will keep your skin and your teeth in good condition when taking medication. Dental insurance is cheap and it saves you alot of money. Bc Blue shield.

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I've had the exact same problem!!! It's horrible. I have DDD and just had my L5-S1 lumbar fusion done in May (2016), and am looking at having another fusion on L4-L5 sometime next year. I'm only 34.
Anyway, my pain became chronic in nature in 2010. My doctor put me on norcos, percocet, and ms contin (the first 1.5 years), but all of them made me nauseous, among other unpleasant side effects, and I built a tolerance quickly to them. So my doctor decided to put me on oxycodone instant release (20mg 4x/day).
As I'm sure you know, the roller coaster of inconsistent pain relief with instant release pain meds is brutal, so my doctor added oxycontin 30mg 2x/day, and changed the 20mg instant release to 30mg 3x/day (for breakthrough pain)....
As the years have gone by since then, the dosages of both the instant release (oxycodone) & extended release (oxycontin) have changed and increased.
Slowly but surely, my teeth started completely deteriorating. I'm at the point where I have zero back teeth, limited and breaking of front teeth.
I love to smile and laugh, which is horribly embarrassing, so I try to not to let my teeth show.
And like you, I've never done street drugs.
I can't afford dental implants, so unfortunately I'm going to have to get dentures. I have to look into it, but I believe my insurance covers dentures.
So sad, so many of us not only have to deal with debilitating pain (we have to deal with the stigma and refusal of other people that don't have chronic pain to understand our situation), side effects & consequences of the medications that are supposed to be giving us a quality of life...

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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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Hi, I am so sorry u r going thru this. I've learned a lot from pasts. Myself being on legitimate meds for yrs may be the cause of problems I'm having with my mouth. After my Mom died I RECIEVED sum $. I went to Mexico to extremely qualified Dentists.They studied in Guadajhara Mx.U S & Germany. I got implants gum done root canals etc etc . I have been noticing my gums receding & getting infection for no apparent reason. I've been intending to contact manufactures in Germany ( zirconium) to my problem. As U know ,the meds keep u fatigued, pain,depressed, scattered motivation, & having every day situations making life harder. Hurricanes , plumbing, furnace & AC not working ,now 70 yrs old, so things r put off.So ur post enlighten me. I used Care Credit long time ago in LA ( daughters credit) must have good credit to get enuf $ for care, The dentist changed dentist after I paid cash to b knocked out & tooth was pulled out tat should not have. They stole my gold posts & left me in horrible pain after anathesia wore off. Care credit refunded their share but not stolen posts. These were a hi-fauluting office. I found an excellent one in an ethnic area that let me make payments & he worked on Sunday's! So lists r not always great & I found out they pay to b placed on top orders.Dental schools want $ also. Nothing is free or nominal anymore. But try calling Drs in area u may not live in. Many these Drs work there cz they care & want to help. Mine was Eygptian educated everywhere including US, Wife was frm Russia also a dentist. She saw me in tears in parking lot & asked wat wrong . Told her no $ etc. Had me come back in & things were tresolved. So go in person .Look in big fon books for coupons ( free offers r leads). Hope u can get help

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I have been on painkillers for four years and I went from having beautiful teeth to most of my bottom ones being pulled out. I just found your post when I realized that my tooth problems have only happened since I was injured and started these meds. I was beautiful and now I don't want to go anywhere or smile. I'm only 36 and like you only had a couple of cavities before I started oxycodone. I can't believe they don't warn people of this. I just like you would've never touched the meds if I knew I'd end up looking like this. I honestly would rather die than look like I do now. This back injury already destroyed my life but now it has taken my beauty, my ability to eat, smile, and feel comfortable. I thought I was alone until I found this. I'm so sorry for your pain and embarrassment I clearly know how you feel. I'm wondering if there's any lawsuits against the pharma company's for this matter because I know I was NEVER warned this would happen. I want my teeth back. I want my beauty back.

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I just put 8 bottles of water in the fridge everyday; not to mention I bring a drink with me when I go out; and when I go to lay down get up at night thirsty, etc.; my teeth have not gotten any worse. I was having problems; the solution is simple. Don't let your mouth get dry; drink extra water, gatorade is okay but, make sure you get your 8 bottles of water daily, plus stay hydrated. Also, take extra care of your teeth. I can buy 5 toothbrushes for a dollar at the dollar store; and they sell throw away tooth brushes so when you are out and about; use them. I notice I get more thirsty on pain medication, I read about the side effects; but I solved the problem. I have permanent damage to my neck and back from negligent drivers. I am not going to ever sue the pharmaceutical companies. They help me manage the pain or my life would be very miserable. That is my advice, I did solve the problem.

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