Buprenorphine (Sublocade) is an injectable medication you get once a month to treat moderate to severe opioid use disorder (OUD). It’s for adults who’ve already started transmucosal (absorbed through your mucous membranes) medication that contains buprenorphine.
It’s part of a full treatment program for OUD that includes counseling and psychosocial support. You may be able to begin treatment if you’ve been on a stable dose of buprenorphine treatment for at least 7 days.
How Does Buprenorphine (Sublocade) Work?
Buprenorphine is a synthetic (manmade) opioid and considered a controlled substance because it could potentially lead to addiction. But it affects your body differently.
It helps your brain learn to work without the misuse of other opioids. That’s because it has a weaker effect when used as prescribed. It doesn’t cause a “high.”
Buprenorphine may help ease cravings and curb the satisfying effects of other opioids. This might make you less likely to use them.
How Do You Use Buprenorphine (Sublocade)?
A health care provider gives you the shot subcutaneously (under the skin) in your belly. You should never get it in your skin, a vein, or a muscle. Buprenorphine could cause serious side effects, including death, if given the wrong way. Because of this, you can only get an injection through the Sublocade REMS Program.
You might get a lump at the injection site that’ll shrink over time. Don’t rub or massage it, and be careful to not wear tight clothing or belts after treatment.
When you first get buprenorphine, your doctor will give you two doses of 300 milligrams. You’ll get one dose of 100 milligrams every month after that. The doctor may raise your dose to 300 milligrams per month if the benefits outweigh the risks.
You can take buprenorphine as long as needed to avoid relapse. If your recovery is going well and you want to stop getting injections, that’s fine. But it must be done slowly over time with the help of your doctor. Stopping all of a sudden can trigger serious side effects.
How Long Does Buprenorphine (Sublocade) Stay in Your System?
Buprenorphine has a half-life of 43 to 60 days. That’s how long it takes the body to get rid of half of the dose you took.
It usually takes around four to five half-lives for a drug to completely leave your body.
Is Buprenorphine (Sublocade) Addictive?
Yes, buprenorphine can be addictive. This medication can be misused and lead to dependency issues just like other opioids.
Can You Overdose on Buprenorphine (Sublocade)?
It’s possible if it’s given the wrong way. It’s important to avoid certain medications when you’re on buprenorphine. Other central nervous system depressants, benzodiazepines, and alcohol can interact with it and trigger serious issues.
Buprenorphine can cause serious side effects, including death. Call 911 right away if you:
- Feel dizzy
- Feel confused
- Feel uncoordinated or sleepy
- Are confused
- Get blurred vision
- Have slurred speech
- Begin breathing slower than normal
- Can’t think clearly
What Are the Other Side Effects of Buprenorphine (Sublocade)?
The most common side effects of buprenorphine are:
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Constipation
- Itching or pain where you got the shot
- Tiredness
You might also feel dizzy when you get up from sitting or lying down while on this treatment. This is because buprenorphine can lower blood pressure.
Buprenorphine can also lead to liver issues. Your doctor should do a blood test before and during your treatment to see if your liver is healthy. Call the doctor right away if you:
- Get jaundice (That’s when your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow.)
- Notice dark or tea-colored urine
- Have light-colored poop
- Feel tenderness, aching, or pain in the right side of your stomach
- Lose your appetite
- Have nausea
This treatment might also cause fertility issues in men and women. Talk with your doctor before treatment if you plan to have a child one day.
Some people are allergic to this medication. Call your doctor or get emergency help as soon as possible if you notice:
- A rash
- Hives
- Wheezing
- Low blood pressure
- Swelling in your face
Some people who are allergic to this medication may also lose consciousness.
What Forms Does Buprenorphine (Sublocade) Come In?
While Sublocade specifically comes in an injectable form, there are other forms of buprenorphine that come in different forms:
Suboxone. This drug is used for OUD. It’s a dissolvable film that’s placed under your tongue (sublingual) or in your cheek.
Zubsolv. This also treats OUD and comes in a tablet form that you put under your tongue.
Buprenex. Some people use this to treat OUD or moderate to severe pain. This one comes in an injectable and tablet form that goes under your tongue.
Subutex. You may use this form for OUD. Subutex comes in a tablet that goes under your tongue.
Butrans. This comes in a transdermal patch, or skin patch. You may use it for chronic pain treatment.
Do You Need an X Waver for Buprenorphine (Sublocade)?
An “X waiver” is the Drug Addiction Treatment Act (DATA 2000) “waiver” law that allows you to use buprenorphine for OUD in an outpatient setting. Your doctor used to need this to prescribe the drug.
But that changed in January 2023. Now, prescriptions for buprenorphine only need a standard DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) registration number.
Does Buprenorphine (Sublocade) Show Up in Urine Drug Screens?
You might get drug tests as part of your recovery or during the hiring process for a new job.
Buprenorphine won’t show up on drug panels the way other opioids do, unless the drug test specifically tests for it.
