Sublocade Guide: How it works, Side effects, Comparisons and More

What Is Sublocade?

Sublocade is a prescription medication used to treat opioid use disorders (OUD) that are moderate to severe. It contains buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist that helps reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. 

The Sublocade shot is administered once each month. It forms a gel-like repository under the skin that steadily releases medication. It’s a long-acting format of buprenorphine that eliminates the need for daily pills or films. 

Sublocade was approved by the FDA in November 2017 and is only available through certified providers who are enrolled in the Sublocade REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) program. Ultimately, what Sublocade is used for is part of a comprehensive treatment plan that should include counseling and behavioral therapy for sustained recovery from opioid addiction.

How Does Sublocade Work?

Sublocade is a long-acting injection that delivers a steady dose of buprenorphine. The medication is a partial opioid agonist that works by binding to the same opioid receptors in the brain that drugs like heroin and oxycodone target. However, it does not produce the same euphoric high. 

This action helps block the effects of other opioids and reduces your cravings and withdrawal symptoms. After Sublocade administration, the medication forms a gel-like repository under the skin. This gradually releases buprenorphine over one month. With repeated monthly injections, Sublocade builds up to a steady state level, providing continuous protection against relapse. 

Before beginning treatment, it’s important to understand how Sublocade works in your tailored recovery plan. Its long-lasting effects provide consistent support for recovery without the need for daily dosing.

How Sublocade Is Used in Opioid Addiction Treatment

Sublocade treatment begins after you are stabilized on a daily dose of buprenorphine, such as Suboxone. This used to require at least seven days of buprenorphine therapy prior to the introduction of Sublocade. However, there’s a new rapid induction protocol that can allow you to begin Sublocade treatment after a single dose of sublingual (under the tongue) buprenorphine.Subloca

Precipitated withdrawal is the rapid onset of intense and sometimes severe symptoms that can happen when Sublocade is started before opioids have completely cleared your system. 

Once you’re stabilized, you receive a Sublocade shot once a month from a healthcare provider. The injections are part of an inpatient or outpatient medication-assisted treatment program. Over time, Sublocade maintains steady levels of buprenorphine in your body, which blocks withdrawal symptoms and cravings. 

The length of treatment will vary, but it often lasts between six and 12 months. The length of time depends on your progress and clinical recommendations by your healthcare provider. Sublocade supports long-term recovery and should be part of a comprehensive plan that includes counseling and behavioral support.

Sublocade in Inpatient and Outpatient Rehab Programs

Sublocade is used as part of a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) plan in inpatient and outpatient rehab settings. As a once-a-month injection, it helps stabilize your treatment by reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms. This improves your engagement in evidence-based behavioral therapy and increases retention in treatment. 

Sublocade supports recovery alongside therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), group therapy, case management, and relapse prevention planning. This combination of medication and behavioral treatment addresses the physical and psychological aspects of opioid use disorder. 

While the drug is effective, a comprehensive approach to treatment is essential to achieve an effective and sustainable recovery plan. Sublocade minimizes the burden of daily medication and allows you to focus more fully on your therapy, developing healthy life skills, and promoting long-term recovery success.

Sublocade Side Effects and Safety Information

Sublocade side effects are generally manageable, but you should be aware of potential reactions. Common Sublocade shot side effects include constipation, nausea, headache, fatigue, and discomfort at the injection site. Some people notice some swelling, bruising, or a small lump where the injection was given. 

Rarely, Sublocade can cause liver enzyme changes or allergic reactions, such as rash or difficulty breathing. You may be regularly monitored during treatment. While Sublocade reduces withdrawal symptoms, stopping treatment abruptly can lead to Sublocade withdrawal. 

These symptoms can develop gradually as the medication leaves your body. The Sublocade withdrawal timeline varies, but it can extend over weeks because of the drug’s long-acting function. You must always work with a healthcare provider before starting or stopping Sublocade.

Sublocade Cost and Copay Assistance

Your monthly cost will vary depending on your insurance coverage and copay assistance. Without insurance, the list price is roughly $2,100 per injection. If you have commercial insurance, your out-of-pocket expenses depend on the benefits and limitations within your policy. 

This includes a variation in copays for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The manufacturer offers the INSUPPORT Copay Assistance Program to help eligible people with private insurance. It will not cover co-pays for government-sponsored health plans like Medicaid or Medicare. 

When you are eligible, the program may pay the full price for the first two injections each calendar year and then up to $800 for each subsequent injection. This only applies to the cost of the medication and does not cover the fees for administration from your healthcare provider or a MAT clinic.

Sublocade Reviews and Patient Experience

Feedback from individuals using Sublocade is generally positive. Many highlight the convenience and effectiveness of managing opioid use disorder and cravings. Patients have commented that the once-monthly injection is convenient, eliminates daily dosing, and helps maintain consistent medication levels. 

The most commonly reported side effects have been constipation, nausea, headache, and some injection site pain. Some users experienced slight withdrawal symptoms before the next scheduled dose, which resolved in the coming months as their body built up more of the medication. Overall, Sublocade is viewed as a beneficial option when you’re seeking a long-acting treatment for opioid dependence.

Comparing Sublocade to Other Medications

When comparing Sublocade to other opioid addiction medications, like Suboxone, Brixadi, and Vivitrol, the key differences include how often they’re taken, how they are administered, and how they work. Let’s compare these medication options so you can choose the most effective treatment plan with your healthcare provider.

Sublocade vs Suboxone

Sublocade vs Suboxone comparisons must highlight the important treatment differences. Suboxone is available as a daily oral film or tablet and combines buprenorphine and naloxone. 

Sublocade, on the other hand, is a monthly injection that only contains extended-release buprenorphine. 

Sublocade offers more consistent medication levels throughout the month and can improve treatment compliance because you don’t need to remember a daily dosing schedule. The bioavailability is also higher with Sublocade’s extended-release formula. This means that your body can use more of the medication. 

Switching from Suboxone to Sublocade may benefit you when you’re looking for more stable coverage or if you’re struggling to remember daily medications. Suboxone vs Sublocade decisions must be made with your health care provider and based on your treatment needs, lifestyle, and recovery goals.

Brixadi vs Sublocade

Both medications are extended-release buprenorphine injections that are used to treat opioid use disorders. However, there are some differences in dosing flexibility, initiation protocols, and administration.

Brixadi offers weekly and monthly injections, which allow your healthcare provider to tailor your treatment plans more closely to your needs. Sublocade is administered once a month. 

Both Brixadi and Sublocade can be started after one dose of transmucosal buprenorphine. This facilitates a quicker initiation of the treatment program. 

Brixadi can be injected subcutaneously in your buttocks, thighs, upper arm, or abdomen. However, Sublocade is limited to subcutaneous injections in the abdominal area. Sublocade has been available since 2017, while Brixadi received FDA approval in 2023 and is gradually becoming more available at treatment centers.

Sublocade vs Vivitrol

Sublocade vs Vivitrol comparisons highlight key differences in how the medications treat opioid use disorder. Sublocade contains buprenorphine. This is a partial opioid agonist that mitigates cravings and withdrawal. In contrast, Vivitrol contains naltrexone, an opioid antagonist that blocks opioid effects entirely. 

Sublocade can be started after stabilization on oral buprenorphine, while Vivitrol requires a full seven to 10 day detoxification. These differing protocols and mechanisms make each drug better suited to different needs. Sublocade may be a better fit if you’re still managing withdrawal symptoms or early in recovery, while Vivitrol is typically used once you’ve fully detoxed and are focused on staying opioid-free.

FAQs About Sublocade