Sublocade Injections

What is Sublocade?

Sublocade™ is an injectable medication that contains buprenorphine. Clinical research has shown that buprenorphine reduces physical dependence on opioid drugs because it decreases the urge to use opioids and lessens the severity of withdrawal symptoms.

Buprenorphine, in conjunction with counseling and other support services, can benefit recovery treatment for heroin addiction, and dependence on prescription opioids, such as:

• Morphine 
• Codeine
• Fentanyl
• Oxycodone (OxyContin®, Percocet®)
• Oxymorphone (Opana®)
• Hydrocodone (Vicodin®) 

Sublocade injections deliver a controlled dose of buprenorphine to your bloodstream for one month. This eliminates the need for daily medications and provides a more even level of medicine to your bloodstream, removing some of the variables that can affect your recovery journey.

How does Sublocade work?

Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist medication. This means that it acts on the same opioid receptors in the brain as true opioids, but with much weaker effects. This means you won’t get high from buprenorphine, and it won’t relieve pain. However, it does reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms and can block the effects of standard opioids.

Buprenorphine improves common symptoms of opioid withdrawal, such as:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Body aches
• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Irritability
• Depression 

Sublocade injections eliminate the need to take oral medications every day and to remember to refill prescriptions. Sublocade and other addiction medicines don’t end addiction on their own, but they can significantly improve long-term recovery outcomes when used as part of a full-scale treatment plan.

Is Sublocade right for me?

If you’ve been taking a daily dose of oral buprenorphine for seven days, and the medication has effectively controlled your withdrawal symptoms, you may be a candidate for Sublocade. Some medications, such as antidepressants, and certain health conditions like Parkinson’s disease or migraines, might rule out your candidacy for Sublocade. During your intake evaluation at Northshore Family Practice, you can ask your provider if Sublocade is right for you.

If your expert determines that you can benefit from Sublocade injection therapy, they incorporate the treatment into a customized recovery plan. This personalized care plan also includes a recovery support protocol, integrative, holistic medical care, and recommendations for counseling and other mental health services.

To learn more about how Sublocade therapy can benefit your recovery journey, schedule a confidential consultation at Northshore Family Practice. Call today or book online.