Can I Sue if I Was Seriously Injured by Suboxone Side Effects?

 Posted on September 29, 2025 in Medical Malpractice

Suboxone is a prescription drug that helps people recover from opioid dependence. For many, it offers stability and hope. But like all powerful medications, it comes with risks. Some of these risks are known and should be explained to patients. Others are not widely understood, even in the medical community. If your doctor did not warn you about serious side effects of Suboxone, or an unknown risk caused major harm, talk to a Palatine, IL Suboxone injury attorney to hear about your options.

Why Are Warnings About Medication Side Effects So Important?

Doctors have a duty to make sure patients understand the potential dangers of the medications they prescribe. This is called "informed consent." Patients cannot make real decisions about their treatment if they are not told about possible outcomes. If a doctor does not explain those risks and a serious injury occurs, the patient may be able to take legal action.

What Types of Side Effects May Lead to a Lawsuit?

Suboxone can cause many mild side effects, but the focus in legal claims is on the serious ones that doctors should tell patients about. These may include:

• Breathing problems, coma, or even death, especially when combined with alcohol or drugs like Xanax or Ambien

• Severe allergic reaction, which can cause dangerous swelling and trouble breathing

• Serious liver damage, sometimes leading to long-term health problems

• Hormone issues such as adrenal insufficiency, which can cause chronic fatigue, dizziness, and low blood pressure

• Severe withdrawal if the medication is started too soon or used improperly

• Dental problems, such as tooth decay and infection, when patients are not told about basic protective steps

If your doctor did not mention these risks, or failed to provide clear instructions to reduce them, you may have a claim if you suffered a major injury.

Can You Sue for Side Effects That Were Not Known?

Even if side effects are not widely known at the time, patients might still have legal options. Drug makers are required to test medications and monitor them after they are released and used. If these companies do not test a drug’s long-term safety, ignore danger signs, or fail to update labels when new problems appear, they can be held responsible. Doctors also have a duty to stay informed about new safety updates.

If Suboxone caused a condition that was not listed in the prescribing guide, and later the risk was confirmed, you may still have a claim. Under Illinois law (735 ILCS 5/2-621), drug makers can be held responsible if a medication harms patients because of poor warnings, unsafe design, or other safety problems. Patients harmed by such risks may be able to recover compensation for medical costs, pain, and lasting injury.

What Do I Need to Prove in a Suboxone Side Effect Lawsuit?

To file a case, you must show that a doctor or drug maker had a duty to warn about serious risks, that they did not give the warning, and that this failure directly caused your injury. Hospital bills, lost income, or lasting health problems can all be included as damages. Illinois law 735 ILCS 5/2-622 requires patients in medical negligence claims to demonstrate that a healthcare provider did not meet accepted standards of care. In Suboxone cases, not giving proper warnings about serious side effects could be enough for a lawsuit.

Contact a Palatine, IL Suboxone Side Effect Injury Lawyer

If you or someone you love has suffered serious harm because of undisclosed or unknown Suboxone side effects, you deserve answers. Speak with a Schaumburg, IL Suboxone injury attorney at Newland & Newland, LLP today. We have decades of combined experience and we have won millions of dollars in successful verdicts. Call 847-797-8000 to schedule a free consultation so we can explain your options and protect your rights.