Denture Cream Class Action Lawsuits Filed Over Fixodent and Poligrip

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Two denture cream lawsuits have been filed in Tennessee against the makers of the popular adhesives Fixodent and Super Poligrip, seeking class action status on behalf of all residents of the state who used the products, as they could cause zinc poisoning, neuropathy and other debilitating injuries.

Nearly 35 million Americans use denture creams to help keep their dentures in place. Fixodent made by Proctor and Gamble, and Super Poligrip made by GlaxoSmithKline are among the most widely used brands of denture creams available.

On March 10, 2009, a Fixodent class action lawsuit and a Super Poligrip class action lawsuit were filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee in Memphis.

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The denture adhesive lawsuits allege that the products contain high levels of zinc, which is not adequately indicated or warned about on the warning label.

While small amounts of zinc are needed for a balanced and healthy diet, even normal use of the denture creams has been found to cause large amounts of zinc to be ingested or absorbed through the mouth and gums. This may cause high levels of zinc in the body, and a decrease in levels of copper, resulting in zinc poisoning, neuropathy or other neurological problems that may leave the user permanently disabled and reliant upon a walker or wheelchair.

Michael Lowe and Marlon J. Bond are the plaintiffs named in Super Poligrip lawsuit filed against GlaxoSmithKline, and Sandra Williams, Diane M. Bates and Retha Jones are the plaintiffs in Fixodent lawsuit filed against Procter & Gamble.

The complaints seeks class action status for other Tennessee residents who purchased and used these products in the state, asking the Court to require the companies to pay for testing, medical monitoring and treatment for zinc poisoning which may develop.

In August 2008, a study was conducted at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas on patients who had developed neuropathy and other problems associated with zinc poisoning.  They had all used large amounts of denture creams like Fixodent and Poligrip. 

The results, which were published in the journal Neurology, found zinc concentrations between 17,000 and 34,000 micrograms per gram in the denture creams used by the patients. They estimated that the patients had a daily exposure of about 330 mg of zinc, far higher than the recommended daily allowance of 11 mg for men and 8 mg for women.

The early symptoms of zinc poisoning may include dizziness, lethargy, numbness, paralysis, loss of sensation, tingling in the hands or feet, muscle weakness or unexplained pain.

The two class action suits filed in Tennessee join a growing number of denture adhesive lawsuits which have been filed or are being reviewed on behalf of individuals who have suffered problems following the use of Fixodent, Poligrip or other similar adhesive products.


150 Comments


Jackie
I am actually going to the doctor today, 6/15/2009. I have been using Fixodent for years (I am 68 ytrs old) and have been having very, very, dizzy spells and balance problems. I have tingling in both hands and arms and both my hards and fingers have started to draw, like spasms. I have been to the doctor before for this and they have not found the cause. I am also having severe cramps in both feet. I have body twitches often and I am wondering if it is caused by Fixodent? I also have numb hands (asleep some people call it) but fixodent may be causing it. The worse part of all this is that I am falling an awful lot and I have always been really active so this is not due to my age. I seem to fall for no apparent reason.

Tanya
i for 31/2 year am a user of superpoly grip and polygrip swithing cause of the cost. fixodent tablets too. i began noticing blurred vision and dizzyness thougth nothing of it. At night my legs would tingle aw so disturbing…..up until this day i know it had alot to do with this stuff(polygrip).. their are other symtoms i notice since i’ve a user of these products. Im so grad to know it’s time to stop . before it slowy kill me!

Neil
Pretty much the same news I have been reading. User for about 14 years now. Feet, but mainly toes, feel like they’re coming out of being asleep all the time for about the last 2 years. Now I wonder if my inability to sleep longer than 2 to 3 hours at a time are connected to the Fixodent. I’ve had sleeping aids but they don’t last and I’m a school teacher that needs their sleep. Too, my hands do fall asleep easily but it’s mainly my feet and toes and non-sleep I’d like to cure. I’ll have a blood test since just learning of this today. Feet are made for walking, not sleeping.

Anne
I have been using fixodent regularly for 22 years and about 10 years ago developed pain in my left hip that the doctors cannot find a cause for. My right thigh goes numb if I am on my feet very long and my feet hurt all the time and swell quite often. Now I am wondering if not using fixodent will make any improvement and what the heck I am supposed to use in place of it?

Bettie
I have been using fixodent every day for about 11 years, this is the only way to secure my dentures, I have a lot of the same problems and now I am having trouble walking, also I suffer from weakness, I haven’t been treated for this but, I going to have a physical soon and I will inform my doctor of this information about thd dental ashesive problem and the high level of zinc.

Sona
Have used Super Poligrip & Fixodent for about 3 years to hold in a removable lower partial plate. The adhesive tends to only last about 3 hours so I have to re-apply often. I end up swallowing a good portion of it because it gets oozy & “disappears.” Since I started using these products, my lower legs began feeling numb & tingly. I began to experience RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome) at night also, which I never had before. I’ve had problems with both hands as well but just thought maybe carpal tunnel was coming back. My memory has been getting worse, but Alzheimer’s does not run in my family. I have not had blood work done to confirm high zinc levels but would be willing to do that.

donny
I had to get false teeth when i was 20 years old, I am now 56 and i have used poligrip and fixadent for over 33 years. I currently have numb ness in both my hands and they go completely asleep a lot to the point that i drop what ever i am holding.. I have diizzy spells and my legs go numb also, my legs hurt at night while sleeping.

Kathy
Pat, I am having the same problems you are except they are getting worse. My lips and mouth are parched and like cotton mouth.My head hurts and I am very disorientated and falling and I can’t pin point it. But 5-`2-09 I had to go in the hospital cause I had another bleeding ulcer to rupture but come to find out it was a blood clot in my stomach and my liver enzems were very high and I have got to find out tomorrow what is going on. I am trying to find out the side effects. I just saw the ad this morning.

DEBBIE
I HAVE EXPIERENCED THE NUMBNESS AND TINGLING SENSATIONS IN MY ARMS AND NOW FEET AND LEGGS. I HAVE USED FIXODENT FOR OVER 5 YEARS NOW AND AM NOW WORRIED AS TO THE EFFECT IT HAS ON MY BODY??? LAST YEAR I EXPIERENCED SEVERAL TIMES OF PASSING OUT AND NOT KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED TO ME AS WELL AS THE DOCTORS??? COULD ALL OF THIS BE FROM FIXODENT??? SCARED AND PRAYING THAT IT IS NOT!!!

Mance
I have been using fixodent for over 30 years. I have all kind of problems and I am under several doctors’ care. I have breathing problems . I have numbness in my feet. I have fallen several times. I stay dizzy all time.

Delania
I have been useing fixodent for twenty five years or more, and about 4 or 5 years ago i started suffering from shoulders hurting and arms so bad i would cry. and then to a numbness in my hand and fingers, joint pain my feet and ankles hurt so bad i dread getting out of bed in the mornings and i have a hard time putting my day in at work because of haveing to stand and walk all day.. I thought it was the kind of shoes i was wearing to work so i started wearing support shoes but the condition keeps getting worse. Could this be from where i have used this fixodent so long that i have zinc poisoning? And do we need to file our own lawsuit against this company? thanks for the info on this product.

Tammy
i been wearing dentures for 13 years now and been using fixodent since then…i developed neropathy in my feet in 2006. i been to 2 diffrent nuroligist and they cant seem to figure out why i have it …im not a diabetic…i was born with feet problems…but all the numbess came fast in 2006… one day part of my foot was numb few days later was numb alittle more so i went to the foot doctor they couldnt figure it out.so i went to nuroligist when i lived in michigan in 06 .moved doen here to arkansas 07 …seen a neroligist here.feels like my shoes are tight all the time and they are not and its very very annoying….

BarBara
I have been using Polygrip, Fixodent and Super Polygrip at times for over 30 years. I usually use as much as 2 tubes a week. I have recently seen a neurologist because of pain in my hands, arms, shoulders and neck. I have not been tested for zinc or copper, ever, in my life. The neurologist can’t seem to determine why I have the pain, but I am experiencing pins and needles in my feet, sometimes numbness. I cannot carry anything heavy and I am sometimes tripping over my own feet

Melissa
I have used FIXODENT for years…I have numbness, tingling,pin prick feeling in my arms and legs. I have been told my doctors that I have a bad disk in my back…. I always thought these problems have been bc of that… Now I wonder if it is from the denture cream…

james
I have been using fixodent everyday for about 3 years I feel dizzy alot and no energy and tingleing in my fingers and sometimes cant hold on to a 20 oz drink

Patricia
I have been using poliigrip for nearly 15 years for added tightness in my dentures and have for the last 4 yrs been complaining to doctors about numbness and tingling and pain in my legs and foot and the tests showed nothing wrong. Lately I have noticed my hand shaking. I have spent an endless amout of money on doctors, orthodics in my shoes etc thinking it may be a foot problem. Nothing has worked. I was told it was more than likely neuropathy. I have been to several specialists and have found no help. It never dawned on me that it could be denture cream.

Teresa
I have top and bottom dentures,but I only use the fixodent for my top dentures because I still have some of my own teeth to help hold my bottom dentures in. I switch over from poligrip about two years ago and started using fixodent control hold with less ooze, the one that has the plus SCOPE flavor. I recently just got out of the hospital from having three seizures. I have never suffered from seizures before, but I did notice some shakes, loss of my balance from time to time. First thing in the morning I am going to see my doctor to have a zinc test done. THANKS !

Betty
My mother started using poligrip and fixodent in the 1960s. She had all her teeth removed and therefore had to use dentures. No one ever mentioned zinc, or the consequences of it being an ingredient like, shakes, tremors, loss of balance.

Sonija
oh man, after reading your post, Beverly O, it brought me to tears, about 4 mornings per week, i wake up and within 3 breaths, i feel a burning sensation that covers my whole body, i can actually FEEL the earwax melt. it is very nasty, but i wanted to let you know that i am having to same problem

Sonija
i am truely scared. I have had my dentures for 2 years, and have used fixodent quite regulary. for the past year i have had persistant headachs, fatigue, sudden pains and “twitches” in my body that i can not controll. i have had nerve and back problems so bad, i had to have surgury. not a day goes by that i am not in pain, my body doesn’t seem to want to work with me, there are times it is very difficult to get around my own house. i never realy thought that the symptoms were connected, i just wrote off the fatigue as me just being lazy, and the hair loss from stress, and so fourth. i am going to my doctor tomorrow, and hopefully having the zinc poisoning test done tomarrow as well.

Sandra
I’ve used both for years and my feet hurt and tingle. I am 65and got dentures at 25. I got an exam in 2005 for insurance and eveything as fine but they said zinc was elevated. I am in Georgia – does this inculde us in this lawsuit?

shirley
i have been having joint pains- and havenotice it been getting worse. it in my arms and ribs and hands.. i have use this stuff for about 25 yrs but have use more in last two yrs as i lost about 17 pds ..my mouth srunk so i had to have more cream to keep them in.. but since reading this.. going see about , putting the screws in my gums , to hold them in–my sister had this done. GOING HAVE MY BLOOD TESTED ,,SEE WHERE I STAND

Betty
I Have used fixodent for many years. About 15 . I have been recently examined for pain and numbness and tingling and pain in my legs and the tests showed nothing wrong. Could this be the fixodent. Also I suffer from fatigue

Audrey
I HAVE USED FIXODENT AND SUPER POLIGRIP FOR MANY MANY YEARS. I HAVE UPPER AND LOWER DENTURES. I HAVE NEUROPATHY IN MY FEET. I TRIED SURGERY, BUT THE NERVE PAIN IS STILL THERE.. I HAVE DEGENERATIVE DISK DISEASE. I HAD 3 CERVICAL DISK REMOVED 2/18/09. I AM 65 YEARS OF AGE. I WAS IN MY 20″S WHEN I RECEIVED MY DENTURES. I USE THE FIXODENT MOSTLY 3 TIMES DAILY. I HAVE BAD BREATH AND TERRIBLE TASE IN MY MOUTH AFTER USING THE ADHESIVE CREAM.

Beverly O
I have used Super Poligrip for 13 years. By the late 90’s I began to have tingling/numbness in both hands and feet/legs. At first it was thought that I might have MS, but MRI in 2004 showed 5 brain lesions, however, they are not the type seen in MS. I have severe burning of my feet, and body burning if I sit too long or sleep in one place too long. I can’t always tell hot hot water is, and I recently have experienced electric shock sensations. I experience minor blurred vision, and have also noticed a decline in my cognition and memory recall. Both my family Physician and my Neurologist can not provide me with a cause for my Sensory Neuroplathy. I also have an unsteady gait, and will fall easily when my balance is off. My Zinc level was flagged as high from most recent tests.

Deborah
I’ve used fixodent for years – not knowing there was any problem. I’d change the adhesive several times a day – especially as the tube got to be half full. I’ve had back problems and developed neuropathy and now for the past few years I’ve noticed tingling and pain in my upper back and down both arms into my fingers. I thought it was due to my back injury and my degenerative disc disease but now I am wondering if its because of this product.

Emmett
I have had tingling, burning and numbness in my fingers and arm. I also had surgery on my arm as well.

Lisa
I have been using fixodent for about 11 years. And have noticed some changes over the past few years. Including, tingling and numbness in my arms and hands. Also in my feet. In the past year, I have started getting light headed. Not only while standing, but sitting, I find myself always grabbing ahold of something, due to feeling like I am going to fall. I have developed muscle weakness, which a neurologist has ruled out any problems with intial exam. I get sharp stabbing pains in my toes. Various test and xrays have been negitive. Typical otc drugs, are no help with any of the pain or discomfort. And, nothing I seem to do works. It just keeps getting worse.

Diva
I have been using these products for 3 years. Stopped using them about 3 weeks ago when I a friend told me about this pending lawsuit. I suffer from tingling in hands and feet, numbness in hands and arms sometimes; also have breathing issues that started soon after I started to use these products. Things that make you go hmmmmm. This is crazy and unacceptable, but as usual the FDA approves and disappoves what its wants to,as lond as it benefits them.

Gwen
i have been using both products for several years now. i get dizzy,and I have a lot of pain in my left knee. Sometimes my legs tingle and seems to get numb. In the morning when I wake up it is so pain just to get out of bed. At night my legs and fingers go completely numb and I can feel them anymore. My doctor has taken so many blood tests and can not seem to find out what is going on.

Dennis
I have been using fixodent for about 30 years. I have numb feet and also part way up the legs. I also have sharp pane under the toe nailes at times.

Ana
For the past few months I’ve been treated for a neurological disorder, stemming from? My mouth is constantly dry, with an on going sore throat and swollen glands. Standing is difficult as I seem to sway, I’ve been to see a neurologist who has ruled out Parkinson’s Disease, Diabetes, Systemic Lupus. Suddenly my limbs are weakened, and it is impossible to stand from a seated position with one or two people almost dragging me to a standing position. Once standing, I walk with no effort at all. Lately, I’m bothered with breast pain and since breast concer is a concern, I’d like to know if it is possible for breast cancer to be a positive concern?

johnnie
i have used poligrip super cream for 8months and i am having breathing problems and not able to hold nothing in my right hand long at all cause it slips out of my hand and fall to the floor very often this happens everyday and i have never had that problem before at all.

johnnie
i have used poligrip super cream for 8months and i am having breathing problems and not able to hold nothing in my right hand long at all cause it slips out of my hand and fall to the floor very often this happens everyday and i have never had that problem before at all.

DENISE
I USE POLYGRIP COMPLETE HEAVILY SEVERAL TIMES A DAY AND AS OF NOVEMBER 2008- I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH MY HANDS AND LEG , I HAVE BURNING AND NUMBNESS IN BOTH -DOCTORS SAY IT’S A NERVINUROPATHY PUT ME ON 2 different meds which neither helped… should I be checked for zinic posioning

susan
I got dentures in 1980 and have used poligrip, fixodent, and fixodent complete off and on all of these years. In 1996 I was diagnosed with blepharospasms, which is a neurological condition. In 2006 I had Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, which I had surgery for. In 2008 I developed Bells Palsy. I have had a constant pain, tingling, numbness, weakness in my neck, shoulder, arm, hands and fingers for a few years. I wonder if using these denture creams have anything to do with any of the problems that I have/have had,, especially the nerve pain, tingling, and numbness, and weakness I have had for a long time.

gene
I have used Fixodent for about 20 years. A few years ago I started using Fixodent Complete, it helped me breath better. I found that a good way to improve your breathing is to drink Grapefruit juice (not pink) or have a Hersheys chocolate candy bar before going to bed. Avoid peanuts , potato chips and popcorn because they get stuck in your throat. Mild sit ups can also loosen the flem. You will cough at first but it will loosen up. I hope this helps

Jennifer
I have been using poligrip and fixadent heavily for nearly 2 yrs and started losing feeling in my hands, it would start from my shoulders and work its way down to my fingertipsl with a needle pricking feeling.

ELLA
I have used botj creams and I am now in constant pain. I have to walk with a cane doctors cannot find out what is wrong with my hip.

AJVandevord
I have used fixodent for 40 yrs .About 10 yrs ago I got numbness & tingling in my feet ;it is getting worse.

Jme
I use Fixodent Control. I am having extremely severe problems with my entire body. Dr. after Dr. cannot figure it out. I have been using it for about 5 years. My feet hurt badly, but i’m a cook 10 hours a day, 4 days a week. My entire body is extremely fatigued. The Dentist couldn’t find a mold just right for me, and without the adhesive, I cannot keep my teeth in. Is this what’s wrong? Or? Is it my bladder sling, again! Geez! I give! In any case, I’m a wreck. I can barely do my job, let alone come home and cleans and get after an Autistic (Asperger’s) adult. I suck!

Will S
I was wondering iof anyone has had any problems breathing that uses polygrip, I mean to the point that it comes on all a sudden and one feels like they can not breath at all. I guess I am asking if some one can have a reaction to polygrip bad enought that their wind pipe can completely close up to the point they can not breath at all and die from that. My wife used polygrip some time up tp 3 times a day to keep her denturers in tight and one night after taking her dentures out she said she couldn’t breath and never took another breath, even the EMTs could not get air to her lungs or the hospital either. I was just wondering if anyone else has had such a hard time breathing as this.

robert
i have been using fixodenr for approximately 9 years and for the past 4 to 5 years i have had partial numbness in my left hand and constant tingleing in my left hand. i have also been concerned about weather my constant diarrhea that i have been having for going on 2 yrs. may also be resulting from use of this product.

John
I have been using Poligrip and Fixodent for many years now, and in the past few years I have started getting very dizzy, alot of unexplained pain, and numbness. I have been to SEVERAL doctors, ALL of which told me they couldnt find anything wrong with me, and treated me like I was a DRUG ADDICT who was just after drugs!!! I have always been the picture of health, except for the pain, numbness and dizziness!

ronald
i have been using both products for several years now. i get dizzy,and mine right ring finger gets numb and tingle in the hand. i have gone to the docotr and have had lab work done and everthing isall right and had a shot for the finger it was good for about 2 months but now it is coming back they call it a trigger finger. but it sems that the poligrip was the worst for me in mine mouth i would get like the comment above parched feelings also mine tongue and mouth.

Ron
I have been using fixodent for 17 years and I havee pain in shoulders and ankles ,feet, numbness in hands I didnt realize it could be a cause of denture cream

pat
i got dentures on 3/13/09, i started using poligrip on 4/1/09. ever since i started using it my mouth feels parched. my mouth, tongue, and lips are swollen and scratchy and my throat is sore. i have not been to a doctor, but i will be going 3/14/09 for my regular check up and i will be asking him about my problem if my symptons continue.

Deborah
istarted using fixodent about 3years ago. I started having problems about 4 months ago. It is gradually getting worse. The numbness and Tingling in the front half of my feet and all of my hands even when i hold a curling iron. Do i just need to have blood work done to find out if it is zinc poisning?

Nicole
My husband and I have been using these products for about a year. This is very disturbing to hear the news on these products. We have three young children together and I have two of my own from a previous marriage. We are still quite young and are looking forward to a long healthy life. I really wish that these companies would inform their customers of the risks that go along with using their products. I feel that they should fix the problem and possibly change the formula and/or ingredients that make up the adhesives. I have noticed that I get an unexplained pain in the roof of my mouth and have headaches that accompany. So I really am not sure of what this is caused from. So if anyone has any information about this please contact me. Thank you so much, and my prayers are with those who have suffered from these products.

Don
My name is Anna McMurtrie, my husband Don has been using Fixodent and Poligrip for many many years and he is starting to suffer from dizziness and the doctors cannot seem to pin point the problem, they are telling him he is suffering from vertigo.

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