Written By : Michelle Llamas
Edited By : Amy Edel
This page features 9 Cited Research Articles
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Suboxone Lawsuit Updates

Suboxone lawsuits are in the initial stages and lawyers are still accepting and investigating these cases as of October 2023. Courts have not yet scheduled any jury trials or approved any global Suboxone settlements for dental problems.

Latest Suboxone Lawsuit Status
  • October 2023: Indivior settled Suboxone monopoly lawsuits drug manufacturers had filed for $385 million. Ketih King filed a Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit on October 2.
  • September 2023: Suboxone lawyers filed another Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit on behalf of David Sorensen. The plaintiff said he used the drug and suffered permanent damage to his teeth.
  • August 2023: Indivior agreed to a $30 million federal antitrust Suboxone settlement in lawsuits health plans had filed.
  • April 2023: The Federal Trade Commission paid the remaining $369,000 out of a $60 million class-action settlement to consumers who joined Suboxone class-action lawsuits starting in 2019 and 2020.
  • January 2022: The Food and Drug Administration added a warning for dental problems to Suboxone’s prescribing information and patient medication guide.

Prior to the latest batch of Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits, Indivior and its former parent company, Reckitt Benckiser, faced criminal and civil charges for deceptive marketing claims. People who allegedly overpaid for Suboxone joined Suboxone class-action lawsuits because of a “deceptive scheme by Reckitt Benckiser Group and Indivior, Inc. to thwart lower-proved generic competition with the branded drug Suboxone.”

FTC settled with Indivior and Reckitt Benckiser for $60 million in 2019 and 2020. The last payments went out to consumers in April 2023 and no more money remains available.

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Did you or a loved one suffer tooth decay or other dental injuries after taking Suboxone?
Get your free case review today.

Why Are Suboxone Lawsuits Being Filed?

Lawyers are filing Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits on behalf of people who experienced serious dental problems after using Suboxone. Injuries in Suboxone lawsuits include tooth decay, cavities and tooth loss. Some plaintiffs have had to undergo extensive dental procedures, and lawsuits claim defendants failed to warn medical providers and consumers.

“While it isn’t entirely clear what about the sublingual delivery method of Suboxone is causing these problems, the film appears to be highly acidic, which is leading to poor dental outcomes,” mass tort and product liability attorney Trent B. Miracle told Consumer Notice.

“The [Suboxone] film appears to be highly acidic, which is leading to poor dental outcomes.”
Trent B. Miracle Mass torts and product liability attorney

Currently, there is no active Suboxone class-action lawsuit, but Indivior and Reckitt Benckiser faced a Suboxone class-action lawsuit in 2019 and 2020 that claimed the company engaged in an antitrust scheme that resulted in consumers overpaying for the drug. The companies reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission for $60 million, and the FTC issued payments to class members.

Suboxone Lawsuits Claim Deceptive Marketing

Before consumers started filing Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits, Indivior and Reckitt Benckiser faced Suboxone lawsuits for deceptive marketing tactics that went as far back as 2012. Allegedly, Indivior engaged in marketing schemes to convince health plans and doctors that Suboxone was safer and less addictive than similar products.

In addition, the company admitted that it sent MassHealth false data to convince the state that Suboxone Film had the lowest rate of accidental pediatric exposure of all buprenorphine drugs in Massachusetts when this wasn’t true. In July 2019, the company plead guilty to the felony charge and paid $600 million to resolve criminal and civil liability.

Reckitt Benckiser also faced similar charges and agreed to a $1.4 billion resolution with the U.S. Department of Justice. Then, New York and five other states reached a $700 million settlement deal for improper marketing in October 2019.

Who Qualifies to File a Suboxone Lawsuit?

Consumers who used prescription Suboxone film and suffered from serious Suboxone side effects, such as cavities and tooth fractures, may qualify to file a Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit. People who notice serious dental problems after using Suboxone for at least six months should contact a lawyer, according to Miracle.

Injuries in Lawsuits
  • Cavities
  • Tooth loss
  • Tooth fractures
  • Tooth decay
  • Tongue injuries
  • Gum injuries

If you have a history of Suboxone street use, you may qualify if you had a prescription for at least six months before suffering dental problems. People with Suboxone tooth decay or dental problems must have been seeing a dentist for routine dental care, such as cleanings, before they developed Suboxone problems.

Only a Suboxone lawyer will be able to tell you for sure if you qualify. Contact a Suboxone lawyer for a free case review as soon as possible because there are deadlines to file a claim that vary in each state.

How Can I File a Suboxone Lawsuit?

You can file a Suboxone lawsuit with the help of a licensed Suboxone lawyer. Your lawyer will walk you through the entire litigation process. After filing your Suboxone lawsuit, a lawyer can help gather evidence of tooth decay or other injuries, negotiate a settlement on your behalf or prepare your case for jury trial.

Mass tort and product liability lawyer Trent Miracle advises people to carefully research who they hire to represent them. Look for a lawyer with experience and a proven track record of settlements and jury verdicts in lawsuits against drug companies.

“In complex cases such as this, it is especially important to retain counsel with resources and years of experience litigating against multinational pharmaceutical companies,” Miracle added.

Please seek the advice of a qualified professional before making decisions about your health or finances.
Last Modified: November 20, 2023

9 Cited Research Articles

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  1. Shabong, Y. & Pierson, B. (2023, October 24). Indivior to pay $385 million to end final Suboxone monopoly lawsuits. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/legal/indivior-pay-385-mln-end-suboxone-monopoly-lawsuits-2023-10-23/
  2. United States District Court for The Northern District of Ohio Eastern Division. (2023, September 25). Sorensen v. Indivior, Inc. et al., Complaint with Jury Demand. Retrieved from https://www.aboutlawsuits.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-09-25-Complaint.pdf
  3. Schulte, K. (2023, August 21). Chesterfield pharma company to pay $30M in Suboxone settlement. Retrieved from https://www.virginiabusiness.com/article/chesterfield-pharma-company-to-pay-30m-in-suboxone-settlement/
  4. Federal Trade Commission. (2023, April). Suboxone Settlement. Retrieved from https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds/suboxone-settlement
  5. Carome, M. (2022, June 1). FDA Warns That Buprenorphine Medications Dissolved in Mouth Increase Risk of Dental Problems. Retrieved from https://www.citizen.org/article/fda-warns-that-buprenorphine-medications-dissolved-in-mouth-increase-risk-of-dental-problems/
  6. FDA. (2022, January 21). FDA warns about dental problems with buprenorphine medicines dissolved in the mouth to treat opioid use disorder and pain. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-warns-about-dental-problems-buprenorphine-medicines-dissolved-mouth-treat-opioid-use-disorder
  7. FTC. (2021, May 10). FTC Returns Nearly $60 Million to Those Suffering from Opioid Addiction Who Were Allegedly Overcharged in Suboxone Film Scheme. Retrieved from https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2021/05/ftc-returns-nearly-60-million-those-suffering-opioid-addiction-who-were-allegedly-overcharged
  8. DOJ. (2020, July 24). Indivior Solutions Pleads Guilty To Felony Charge And Indivior Entities Agree To Pay $600 Million To Resolve Criminal And Civil Investigations As Part Of DOJ’s Largest Opioid Resolution. Retrieved from https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/indivior-solutions-pleads-guilty-felony-charge-and-indivior-entities-agree-pay-600-million
  9. Reuters. (2019, October 23). New York, states reach $700 mln settlement with Reckitt over opioid probes. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/reckitt-benc-grp-probe-indivior/new-york-states-reach-700-mln-settlement-with-reckitt-over-opioid-probes-idUSL3N27849P