What Is Suboxone/Sublocade?

Suboxone is the brand name for a prescription medicine used to treat adults who are dependent on or addicted to opioids. The active ingredients are buprenorphine and naloxone, which affect the same regions of the brain as opiates.

Sublocade (manufactured by the same company that makes Suboxone) contains only buprenorphine, and is taken as an extended-release injection. It is designed to deliver buprenorphine at a controlled rate over a period of one month.

How Do Suboxone/Sublocade Help Treat Opioid Addiction?

The active ingredients in Suboxone - buprenorphine and naloxone - help control cravings and prevent relapse. Buprenorphine is what’s known as a ‘partial agonist’, meaning it can attach to the same receptors as other opioids. It reduces the physical cravings people experience while going through detox.

Naloxone is an ‘opioid antagonist,’ and blocks receptors that are activated by opioid drugs. It functions as a protective agent that helps prevent people from abusing the drug by causing immediate withdrawal symptoms.

Suboxone/Sublocade treats addiction to:

• Heroin
• Morphine
• Opium
• Codeine
• Oxycodone
• Oxycontin
• Hydrocodone (Vicodin)

How Is Suboxone/Sublocade Taken?

Suboxone is taken orally in the form of a tablet or a film. The tablet/film is placed under the tongue or between the gums and cheek, where it dissolves in the mouth.

Sublocade is an injection given by a doctor once per month. Taking Soblocade in this way allows patients to feel discretion and privacy as they go through recovery. In order to receive Sublocade, you first must use a form of buprenorphine for at least seven days.

What Are The Benefits of Suboxone/Sublocade?

The FDA approved Suboxone as an effective treatment for opioid addiction in 2002, and Sublocade was approved by the year 2017. Both medications have been effectively used to help millions of people addicted to opioids avoid the potentially-deadly effects of withdrawal, and reclaim their lives. Suboxone and Sublocade both:

• Prevent ‘cold turkey’ symptom withdrawals
• Allow patients to wean off opioids slowly, without pain
• Carry a low risk of being abused (they do not make patients feel high)
• Reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms
• Do not create long-term harm to organs

What Are The Signs of Opioid Abuse?

If you or a loved one is struggling with opioid abuse, watch out for the following tell-tale signs

• Inability to control opioid use
• Frequent flu-like symptoms
• Uncontrollable cravings
• Grogginess
• Change in sleep/exercise patterns
• Weight loss
• Decreased libido
• Poor hygiene
• Isolation from loved ones
• Stealing
• New/sudden financial struggles

How Can I Avoid Opioid Addiction?

If you or someone you know has considered taking opioids to manage pain, please speak with a physician before getting a prescription. Your doctor can review your medical history and current needs, and guide you towards safer, less addictive alternatives. In the event that opioid medication is the only option, your doctor can work with you on an action plan to ensure that you take your medication in a safe, responsible way.

If you feel you may be at risk for developing an opioid addiction, contact your doctor immediately. The sooner you address opioid dependency, the better.

Is Suboxone/Sublocade Right For Me?

If you have become dependent on one or more opioids, beginning a medicated assisted treatment program that includes Suboxone or Sublocade can empower you towards a safe, healthy recovery. These medications have worked successfully for many people because it takes them through the recovery process without cravings or painful withdrawal symptoms.

However, as with any medication, Suboxone and Sublocade do come with side effects, and may not be suitable if you have certain medical conditions. The best way to determine if this line of treatment is right for you is to speak to your doctor.