Lawsuit filed over drug to treat opioid addiction

VANCOUVER • A lawsuit has been filed by two British Columbians against the maker of an opioid addiction treatment drug, claiming it rotted their teeth.

According to the lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court on April 5, Brandon Scholten, 31, of Langley and Deborah Annis, 63, of Prince George, were treated with the drug Suboxone.

Scholten was prescribed the drug in 2017 for pain management and opioid addiction. After this, he alleges he suffered tooth decay, tooth erosion and dental nerve damage.

Annis was prescribed the drug in 2010 and used it for three years. She alleges she suffered tooth decay, cavities, cracked teeth and burning mouth syndrome as a result.

The defendants in the proposed class-action lawsuit are the U.S. company Merck & Co and its affiliated companies.

Suboxone was approved for use in Canada in 2007 and is primarily used to treat opioid addiction by reducing the effects of drug withdrawal. Suboxone contains the pharmaceuticals buprenorphine and naloxone and was initially sold as a tablet that is administered by placing it under the tongue or against the cheek.

“The different formulations of Suboxone products, including the soluble film form, are designed to be acidic to maximize absorption of buprenorphine while minimizing absorption of naloxone,” the statement of claim reads.

Keeping the acidic tablets in the mouth is what has led to the dental side-effects — which include cavities, tooth decay, tooth loss and more.

According to the court filing, Suboxone products are highly prescribed globally.

According to the claim, in January 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an information bulletin warning that dental problems had been reported with medicines containing buprenorphine that are dissolved in the mouth. These dental problems include tooth decay, cavities, loss of teeth and more had been reported in patients with no history of dental issues.

In March 2023, Merck & Co revised its Canadian warnings to state cases of “dental caries” has been reported among Suboxone users. This had led to cavities, decay, filling falling out and in some cases total tooth loss.

The B.C. Ministry of Health warns that some people using Suboxone may have dental problems (such as tooth decay/loss, cavities, infection). It recommends those prescribed the drug to visit a dentist soon after starting the drug.

Scholten and Annis are asking for $500,000 each in compensation.

None of the claims in the civil suit have been proven in court and Merck & Co has not yet responded.