Oxycontin Damaged My Teeth (Page 4)

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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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61

Hi Angela- I am so sorry to read about all that you have been through. I also was on oxycontin from 2000 till 2004 & I had almost the same problem as you did with your teeth. I have had no clue that the oxycontin could have caused it till I read your story. It is not right for a doctor to put us on these meds & not provide a list of possible side affects that are caused by these meds. I read through all of the comments that people replied to about your teeth & I wish all of us affected by this should stick together & go after the makers of this awful drug. I will go on your myspace this weekend & leave you my name & e-mail so you can contact me if you want to. My heart goes out to you & your children & maybe we can research & find someone that can help you get your implants. Also maybe we can locate a lawyer that can help all of us affected. Just like you I am disabled but I no longer take the oxys but another med just like it. Hope to chat with you soon.

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62

Hello All! I found this discussion while looking up side affects, I am currenly on two 80 mg and four 15 mg a day. As a result of 3 not at fault car accidents in a year and a half and falling down a flight of stairs . So you can imagine my list of pains.... Oh I am 30 years old, all I keep thinking about is what I can I do NOW to prevent bigger issues in the future addiction, teeth..ect . I have been on pain meds for a few years now, but only the 80 mg for 2 months. I'm lost on what to do????? Continue relieving the pain or ???
Also I just wanted to wish everyone the best !! I am open to suggestions!
Thanks for reading.....

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63

Dear Tomsmom,
I am a health care professional. I live in Los Angeles. I deal with pain using alternative approaches to medication. I would be happy to talk to you and advise you about options to meds. Please feel free to contact me directly.
Ellie Zarrabian

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

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64

To Tomsmom, I also found out from this comment post that oxycontin can cause your teeth to rot. I am mad as hell about it. I no longer take it anymore but I am on another med now. I just can't understand why a doctor or a pharmacist would not give patients a list of possible side affects such as this.I know doctors are very busy but when you get a med filled you always usually get a insert about possible side affects, I never got anything about it causing problems with your teeth. I had beautiful teeth, when I was young my parents spent a lot of money getting me braces but in the time frame when I was on oxycontin it was about 2 years or so into being on oxy that I started having problems with my teeth, it is truly awful that the news about these meds don't come out as everything else seems to, everyday we always read about different foods etc that may cause cancer or other things, why not make this a story after reading Angela's story & others that have had the same problem, we need to bring attention to the public about this. I have no clue about how to go public & bring it to someones attention if anyone reading this does please come forward & help. Thank you.

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65

I have recently detoxed myself off of Oxycontin and I can't believe what changes I've seen in myself. First I want to say that it took a full two months to pull myself out of bed or even desire to speak to my family members. Yet, after the first week I noticed that the severe spasms I had in my hands, feet and back have decreased by 50%. I thought they were due to my back problems getting worse in the last five years. Not so. I too have lost all my upper teeth and didn't know that it was caused by the drugs I was prescribed until I read your postings today. No one mentioned that cause and effect issue to me all through that nightmare. I also had almost daily migraines which have dropped 80% since I got off this drug. My memory was getting so poor that I thought I was getting an early case of Alztimers. Now, I'm seeing it getting stronger every day. I had lost all of my motivation in life, my humor, my personality and my desire to do anything productive. All of this part of me is just now beginning to return a bit more every day. I just can't believe all this drug has done to me and the issues it caused. I am so thankful that I have an understanding husband who endured all the changes that he saw in me, and then cared for me while I detoxed myself. My pain Dr. said she was so proud of me, but that I was never really addicted to this medication after being on it for five years. Yeah, tell that to the woman that was afraid to detox and spent the last two months sleeping and behaving like a sloth. I can tell that I still have a long way towards my full recovery but I'm looking forward to getting off many other meds that I started using to counteract the pain the Oxycontin created for me. Never again!

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66

I've been reading several links regarding this drug and I've noticed that in each discussion someone has entered postings which are suggesting illegal buying or selling of this medication. I think these entries are being made by Federal Agents who are trying to entrap people who are online discussing this drug.

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67

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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68

Ginny, I am so happy for you I know it must have been very hard to do but you should be very proud of yourself. I am sorry to hear you are yet another victim of this med & it caused you to lose your teeth like many of us have. May God bless you & continue to give you strength !

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69

Dear Angela, I am very sorry for what you have gone thru and continue to go thru. I too have had the same thing happen to me with my teeth and I too am going thru the not being able to find a dentist to help due to very little or no money but I am looking around the internet trying to find dentists in your area that may be willing to help you, if you'd like feel free to email me and stay in touch! I am on your side! my email address is to_hot_mandy [at] hotmail [dot] com email me anytime... God Bless, Amanda

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70

Dear Angela and all others out there,
Let me first say how truly sorry I am for some of these postings. If they do not have any kind of chronic pain they will never, ever understand no matter what you say to them.

My posting is coming from another view. My husband has been on oxy for almost 12 years. I just want to smack NO punch Drs and other a**holes in the mouth when they look at my husband as a drug addict. He would love to get off these meds, but the pain is worse than I could ever imagine. I hate it when these people treat him like he is an on-the street drug addict and have more than once gotten into many, many arguments.
Whe he was younger he had a sledding accident and then a motorcycle accident which aggravated and rehurt the same lower spine area.

After finally deciding on back surgery (cages, rods, and screws) the outcome is worse than ever. He now has a condition called mechanical back, which means he will always and forever be in horrible pain.

Unfortunately, this is a Catch22. To be off the oxy would probably be worse, BUT being on them is just as bad if not worse.

He has also had nerves that come out of the spinal cord cut trying to alleviate the pain, but that did not help. He has done acupuncture, tried deep tissue massage and it lessens the pain for a couple of hours but that is not long enough to go off the meds.

Want to talk about teeth - his is rotting away...seriously...from the inside out. It is incredible. I was always jealous of his teeth. They were always straight and white and just perfect. Now they are blackened, chipped, missing, OH you name it. It is truly incredible...and of course, all the doctors and dentists say it is not from the meds. I have done alot of research because I would LOVE for him to get off them although I know that it is not possible. Site after site said that this would happen to his teeth.

I have also noticed in the past 3+ years that he is really starting to hunch and his walk is getting very weird.

He has had heart problems and sometype of gastro problem (which cannot be figured out) and a few times when he was taken to the ER and asks if you he is on any meds & he says yes, oxy - automatically they have a change of heart and say well, we are not giving you any of that here. NEVER once has he ever said that's what he wanted. He was in for heart problems and gastro problems. That's when I get in there faces. They actually treat him differently and get an attitude. It is amazing!

As for these pain management doctors, you put them on these drugs knowing the side effects and that these drigs are addictive and then when this happens you either say go find another doctor, or I'm not giving you these anymore or are just complete a**holes to your patient(s).

As for some of the postings about the president and making things better, he has already said that the one thing he is going to cut back on is pain management and chronic back pain. OMG, this is not going to be good!

As for selling your pain meds, if you are like my husband, you are lucky enough to have them last until your next refill. When you are in pain and this will help to alleviate it just a bit you will take an extra. Anything to get through your day. (That is if you can get out of bed!)
You will not be selling...You would be buying!

Have any of you had the pharmacist problem? They can all kiss my ass for how judgemental they are. If they are all so worried about losing their licenses for a PRESCRIBED medicine from a doctor (this is one of the most watched drug out there by the feds) then find a new job and get out of this profession.

Our quality of life is always jeopardized. If he is on his feet for too long or we are somewhere with our kids and do alot of walking, his back goes into spasms and on the ground he goes. We always need to worry about him.

I am very lucky and thank GOD everyday that I don't have chronic pain. I see what my husband goes through and feel horrible because there is absolutely nothing I can do to help.

For all of you out there who had nasty things to say, you better pray that you are never in a position such as this....you will not survive! It is easy to sit back and judge, try living it every single moment and day of your life.

To all with chronic pain, you are all in my prayers.

EG

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71

This goes out to David who went to Mexico to get his teeth done.

Can you please let me know the name of this place? Would be very interested! Thank you

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72

Pimas here, with teeth going fast! I am a 61 year old white male with major teeth loss since on meds for pain. I was on 2ea-60mg SR and 4ea-5mg OXY, for years. My Insurance -(what the government calls insurence-when on Medicare) but they would not let me take it. I changed my Medicare -UNproviders twice, even with a EXPERT Drs. letter of explanation - why I should be using OXY--NO!- Anyway I am on morphine now, BUT I was losing my teeth at an alarming rate! while on the OXY, and having them pulled 1 at a time because of $.One Dentist was ready to retire and pulled 3 bad ones.I had gone in with just enough $ to pull one-he pulled 3 for the cost of one. He just said be kind to someone today. I had never put together the meds being the cause of loseing all my teeth so fast! Their must be a good lawyer somewhere to look into this side affect we were never told! I am mad as H___. if there is a connection. good luck, Pimas9FE1

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73

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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74

Angela is a Shill and a Thief. She is on many boards always with first name of Angela and various last names. As sited in past posts she was soliciting funds in one of her MySpace pages and also befriends people who feel sorry for her and they send her money with her promises to repay and never does. Her so called charity is bogus as well. Please do not fall for her story as it changes depending on the forum, however most of the facts she states are the same, single mother, Oxy needs, sometimes dental, sometimes other problems, the list just goes on and on. Chronic Pain is a terrible disease and yes I consider it a disease as any other and no one should be cheated out of their own dollars to support poor Angela's ever growing stories all over the net. So beware. Compassion is always the right thing to do, but please please beware of those who are less then honest as we all have empathy and compassion and want to help others as much as we can. Some however go beyond and I don't want anyone in Blind Faith to get burned. I know some who have.

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75

Just a note as to those looking for lawyer or someone to blame for the side effects. The fact is that all these pain meds do have many side effects - If you are in true pain ask yourself ? Even if you knew about all the problems upfront would it change your need for pain relief. Long term pain in worse than most will ever really understand. So if you have to pick between some pain relief with side effects or no relief and full time 10+_ pain what choice do you have ? Its just another side of your injury that we suffer from - side effects and for most still not much true pain relief.

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76

Have exactly the same problem - all my top teeth have been removed and dental plate in their place. My bottom teeth are rotted from the gumline up - 5 have broken level with the gum, stumps are being removed this week. Can't eat like the rest of the family, going out in the cold is too painful (unless i keep m,y mouth closed and don't speak while outside in winter or cold nights). I am a mother of two - 11 and 12 years old. I have given them excellent teeth along with their Dad - but my teeth have been falling out more than their baby teeth have! My dentist has been the only one to acknowledge that the above medication and its use over time has singularly caused my dental despair! I feel for you and your situation, take care...

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77

your scewd u should have known better and shot it p your toes.....

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78

No NO you shoot it up your arms dumb ass

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79

Before I had reached my 50th birthday I never had a cavity. About age 45 I started Oxycontin (MAINLY) within 1 year on 8 X 80mg /24hr (4X80 am + 4 x 80pm=640mg/day). One day after brushing my great looking teeth I noticed a bright color on every tooth just above the gumline. I thought it was some kind of bone cancer. I was the kind of kid that did all the wrong things as far as dental hygene is concerned. I ate tons of candy, only brushed once in a blue moon (untill I hit teenager years) but I LOVED milk. 1 gallon a day was no rare. Then almost overnight my front top tooth cracked in half. Thank God my lps hang over them but then more teeth started falling apart. Not the base The base of the tooth was strong. Here it is 5 years later and I have lot almost 95% of all my teeth except what bone is below the gumline. After reading this article there is no doubt in my mind that Oxycontin caused me to loose all my teeth. I should add that I hurt my back in the 1970's and took percoset and many other pain pills most of my life. I NEVER had any teeth issues until Oxys. My mother took Vicodin and Darvon for a bad back for 40 years and never had teeth problems. I think that teth are mainly effected at high dose Oxycontin or Oxycodone. Until Oxycontin came out the most pills a person might take would be 10 percoset in 1 day. We had to conserve because once we ran out we were doomed to more pain until Rx renewal time. So I disagree with the one reply that I read that says it is not compensible. I think Perdue Pharma should be liable for a) Each person to be given the option of rapid detox or detox aproved. b) Full top and bottom teeth implants. My guess is this teeth issue doesnt occur until a person has been on high dose for extended periods such as a couple of years. I also never had trouble with my knees. Both knees are one on bone and I never had been diagnosed with artritis. Aparently like the reply stated Oxycontin depletes something in the CARTLIDGE and the BONE that causs incredible wear. (leave up top the scientist to figure that one out). Perdue messed up when the sued and got the generics off the market Now the finger ispointing to Perdue only. I feel Oxycontin WAS a Gosdent at one time. NOw that I have developed a tollerance to it and must wake each AM at 4 to 6 am to take a done just to allow me to go back to sleep (because I am actually in a phase of detox despite I just took myt last dose at 8 pm) They stop lasting. I seriously doubt that Medicare and or Medicaid will approve Oxycotin next year. There are going to be many of us in severe detox. God I wish I had been warned about alll this nightmare. When you read that you may develope tollerance you dont comprehend that the medication will eventually nearly stop working. You dont comprehend that you will require the drug just to keep from getting ill (going nto detox) It was so nice at first, getting a great nights sleep easy 8 to 10 hours sleep when before I could barely get 4 to 6 hours. But now I barely get 4 or 5 WITH the medication. Now I have a $2,500 a month habbit (retail Rx price) I fear so much that I may have to turn to the strets to buy Heroin, A drug I never never even thought would enter my body in any form. I wonder if a bullet to my brain would not be the only answer. If it ends that way you can ay that Perdye Pharma executed me. I do my best to keep my mouth closed when I laugh. My guess is after reading this my new docs probably think I am already a Heroin addict. or Meth addict.

After I got my first prescription of Oxycontin prior to me going to the pharmacy I read the ingrediants. Then Percosets were 5 mg of Oxycodone. I could not beleave the calculator when it showed that one Oxy had as much Oxycodone in it as 16 percosets. Back when I started they made oxycontin in 160mgm (32 percosets a day worth of Oxycodone. One doctor started me on 2x 160mg q 12 hours, still 640mg a day or the same as 128 Percoset 5 mg/day I remember taking my Rx back to my doctor tearing it up in front of him, telling him I wasnt an addict and to prescribe me something more logical. He gave me the 80's but at that point I needed meds and went ahead and cashed them. Boy do I regret that now. I should have never got them filled. To answer your question ....

YES OXYCONTIN KILLS ALL THE TEETH in your mouth if you keep taking them. I am no scientist but what I gather is that there is some type of acid that is created in the stomach that gurgles or bubbles up through our airway that is very detrimetal to the enamel and material that make up the teeth. What worries me is even if I can get all the teeth pulled is since they are all down to the gumlines the teeth cant be pullled they must be cut out there is no teeth for a dentist to pull out. I will likely have little gums left for false teeth to adhere to. As far as the implants I feel the price will drop dramatically after they catch on. Hell there are just 4 post that seem to hold the top and another 4 for the bottom Pulling whats there is the expenive part.We need to have a lawyer thats willing to pull in the people for a class action. There are enough people on Oxys for long enough now where missing teeth should be commonplace. I have my Rx records going back 10 years and 95% of my fills are for Oxycontin. or for a short period the generics.

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80

Oxycontin users. Look at the post most peoples teeth are breaking of not truly rooting.

I beg of you Oxycontin user (I'm one)

If your lucky enough to still have your teeth (takes about 2 to 4 years on igh dose before they start to fall apart)

Take a flashlight to the bathroom and look as close as possible at your teeth. The area just barely above the gumline. You could easily draw the conclusion that it is plaq that you see. It may not be!

Aparently the teeth start to die at the gumline. One post said it is like they die from the inside out.

The white line will go completely around the top and bottom of all the teeths gumline. As time passes little parts of teeth start to break away right at the gumline.

My dentist didnt say a word about the white line just adjacent to the gumline.

I am not sure if the Oxycontin cause a special chemical to form in our stomachs or lungs but it appears that the teeth most exposed to air accross them break apart first. The backs near the Wisdome teeth wil be the last to go. Many peoples mouths and teeth are different do use my idea as a general way to inspect your teeth.

If you see this white line much damage has occured. It is VERY hard for the detist to work on a tooth that meets the gumline. They will try to put fillers in but its just to brittle of an area.

Some how some way you need to switch from Oxycontin to some drug that is not known for ruining the teeth.

It only took me 5 years to go from not one single cavity in my laters fifties to every single teeth that I have being 90% GONE.

Like one poster stated they just break off. Mine did both. Some crumbled others broke even with the little white line.

By the way this white line is as thin as a hair so you must look very close to see it. Once you se it you will know it for sure.

It is weird because the white line adjacent to the gumline despite its small size is a very white white. Almost as if you took an industrial bleach and painted the whitest white you have ever seen on the tooth nearest to the gumline.

You can go around a considerable amount of time with the white line before your teeth go to hell.

I'm not saying changing to a different opiate will stop damage but in my heart of hearts I feel my teeth rot was soly due to Oxycontin.

Good luck and for Gods sake wouldyou scientist please come out with a pain killer that doesnt ruin us mind body and soul.

C o l e

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