Suboxone: Side Effects, Safety Warnings and Dental Risks

Suboxone is a prescription medication approved by the FDA in 2002 to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). It combines two active ingredients: buprenorphine (a partial opioid agonist) and naloxone (an opioid antagonist).

It’s available in tablet form or as a dissolvable film that can be placed under the tongue.

The drug works in two ways. Buprenorphine partially binds to receptors in the brain to relieve opioid withdrawal symptoms and reduce opioid cravings without causing a high. Naloxone blocks opioid receptors in the brain to help prevent Suboxone abuse by triggering withdrawal symptoms.

Indivior manufactures brand-name Suboxone, and it’s also available in generic form as buprenorphine and naloxone.

The most common side effects of Suboxone include headache, nausea and vomiting. However, Suboxone also has more serious side effects, such as dental problems and life-threatening breathing problems. 

Common side effects may be temporary and last for only a few days or weeks. If these don’t go away or bother you, you can talk to your medical provider.

Serious Suboxone side effects are rarer when patients take the drug exactly as directed. However, if you experience any of the side effects listed below, you should talk to your doctor right away.

This isn’t a complete list of all side effects. If you experience any changes in your health or notice new symptoms, make sure you talk to your doctor right away.

In 2022, the FDA issued a safety communication warning that it had received reports of serious dental problems with Suboxone, including “tooth decay, cavities, oral infections, and loss of teeth.” These problems can be serious and affect people with no history of dental issues. 

Researchers aren’t sure exactly how Suboxone damages teeth. However, some evidence suggests that Suboxone’s acidity (pH of 3.4) is too high, causing dental problems. High acidity can alter the bacteria on teeth, increasing the risk of cavities. Patients take Suboxone about three times a day, and Suboxone film takes about five to 10 minutes to dissolve. This exposes teeth to the acidic environment multiple times a day for a prolonged period.

In addition to the 2022 safety communication, the FDA required Indivior to place a warning on the drug’s label to inform the public about the dental problem reports. 

However, Suboxone had been on the market since 2002 without warnings, potentially exposing many patients to tooth damage. Some people who experienced dental problems after using Suboxone films filed lawsuits.  

Dental Side Effects Can Be Devastating

One Suboxone patient shared her experience with us under the initials D.S. to protect her privacy. She suffered dental problems for years and didn’t know it was Suboxone until recent research came out. She felt the manufacturer withheld information about the risk from consumers. 

She’s had multiple cavities, several teeth pulled and multiple root canals. It’s affected her self-esteem and quality of life. 

“I don’t have the first clue how I will ever afford getting new teeth because I can’t go on like this. I am in constant pain, and I cannot even properly eat. It’s unfair and devastating. And the worst part is that this is not a medication that can abruptly be stopped and involves a lengthy weaning process,” D.S. told Drugwatch.

While people use Suboxone to treat opioid dependence, it can also be addictive and cause withdrawal symptoms if patients stop taking the drug too quickly.

The severity of symptoms varies and depends on the strength of the dose and how long a patient has been on the drug. Symptoms may last for as long as a month. Most physical withdrawal symptoms occur within the first 72 hours.

To prevent these symptoms, avoid stopping Suboxone abruptly. Be sure to get professional guidance to gradually taper off the medication.

Suboxone isn’t for everyone and has varying levels of safety in pregnant people, children and older adults.

Before taking Suboxone, make sure you tell your medical provider about any drugs you’re taking and any health conditions you have.

If you experience any Suboxone side effects, make sure you tell your medical provider right away. If you are having dental problems, talk to your dentist. 

Talk to your medical provider about Suboxone alternatives or if you can taper off the drug safely. 

The FDA encourages people to submit reports about side effects to its MedWatch Program.

If you’re considering taking legal action against Indivior for severe dental damage, make sure you get your medical and dental records. Keep any receipts or prescription notes about your history of using Suboxone.

If you’ve used Suboxone films (sublingual films) and suffered dental problems, it’s not your fault, and you may be able to pursue legal action against Indivior. 

“There’s already the stigma attached to the fact that somebody is struggling with addiction issues. So that is crushing. Someone’s self-confidence and self-worth are obviously affected. Then just add to that this condition with serious dental issues and it makes it exponentially worse than it already was,” Suboxone lawyer Trent Miracle told Drugwatch.

Suboxone lawsuits accuse Indivior of failing to warn health care providers and patients about the risks of severe dental problems. Injuries in lawsuits include oral infections, tooth decay, cavities and tooth loss. 

You can sign up for a free Suboxone case review on Drugwatch, and there’s never any pressure to pursue a claim. We’ll match you with a lawyer for your specific situation, and you can change your mind at any time.