During opioid recovery, a holistic approach that includes medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and behavioral therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), contingency management therapy and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) makes it easier for patients to stay on a life path free of addiction. MAT specifically counteracts any high a patient might experience, diminishes their withdrawal symptoms faster during the detoxification process, and blocks their cravings and desires for one or more substances.
Sublocade is the brand name of an FDA-approved prescription medication known as buprenorphine that’s designed to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). It’s available as an extended-release treatment that’s administered as a once-monthly subcutaneous injection. It plays a critical role during addiction rehabilitation and recovery by helping to reduce symptoms, promote stability, and prevent relapse during sobriety.
The staff at Garden State Treatment Center prefer the use of this MAT because patients don’t normally suffer the highs and lows that often happen with other drugs. Read on to learn more about how Sublocade can help you or a loved one achieve lasting success.
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How Sublocade Works
Sublocade is a buprenorphine extended-release injection used in the treatment of moderate to severe opioid use disorder (OUD) as part of a complete treatment program. It works by acting on the same opioid receptors in the brain as illicit opioids like oxycodone, but with a weaker effect. This helps to reduce cravings and opioid withdrawal symptoms without producing the same “high” associated with opioid abuse.
The Sublocade Delivery System
Sublocade is administered as a monthly injection by a healthcare professional. This monthly dosing schedule and its unique delivery system, where the medication is released slowly over time, distinguish it from other forms of buprenorphine, such as Suboxone (a buprenorphine-containing product that combines buprenorphine with naloxone and is administered transmucosally). Sublocade is typically used after a patient has been stabilized on oral buprenorphine for at least a week.
Benefits of Sublocade
- Reduced Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms: Sublocade helps to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms, which can include anxiety, muscle aches, insomnia, and intense cravings.
- Lower Risk of Misuse: Because Sublocade is a prefilled syringe given as a monthly injection by a healthcare professional, there is a lower risk of misuse, diversion, or accidental overdose compared to other opioid agonist medications.
- Improved Treatment Adherence: The monthly dosing schedule can improve adherence to treatment compared to daily medications.
Important Considerations
- REMS Program: Sublocade is a Schedule III prescription drug and is subject to a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program due to the risk of serious side effects, including respiratory depression. This means it can only be prescribed by healthcare providers certified in the REMS program and dispensed through certified pharmacies.
- Liver Function: Buprenorphine can affect liver function, so your healthcare professional may monitor your liver enzymes through blood tests.
- Interactions with Benzodiazepines: Combining Sublocade with benzodiazepines can increase the risk of respiratory depression and overdose.
- Medication Guide: It is important to read the Medication Guide provided with your Sublocade prescription.
Sublocade and Comprehensive Treatment
While Sublocade can be an effective tool in managing OUD, it is most successful when used as part of a comprehensive treatment program that includes counseling, behavioral therapies, and psychosocial support. This holistic approach addresses the physical, emotional, and social aspects of addiction, helping individuals achieve long-term recovery.
Benefits of Sublocade Injections
In summary, the benefits of Sublocade include long-lasting, consistent relief from life-threatening withdrawal symptoms and extreme cravings that can cause relapse. It has a reduced risk of misuse when compared to other daily medications, even low-dose ones like Suboxone.
Sublocade supports long-term recovery and stability by making it easier for patients to receive the medication-assisted treatment they need over a long period without the stress of daily doses or constant monitoring by a physician. Instead, a patient can focus on other aspects of their rehabilitation and recovery, such as behavioral therapy, coping strategies, dual-diagnosis treatment, transitional services and aftercare.
Who Can Benefit from Sublocade?
Adults struggling with moderate to severe opioid use disorder benefit the most from Sublocade injections. It works especially well for those who need a convenient and effective treatment option that’s also a proven, trusted alternative to daily doses of traditional drugs and monitoring. Sublocade also works best for addicts who have busy lifestyles that make it impossible for them to have the time to devote to daily MAT maintenance or experience healthcare-induced anxiety that make them more likely to relapse during treatment.
The Treatment Process at Garden State Treatment Center
The professionals at Garden State Treatment Center follow a three-step process to help addicts take back their lives from one or more addictive substances.
- We start with a comprehensive consultation and assessment. We then create a personalized, evidence-based treatment plan that includes MAT, behavioral therapy and other proven programs.
- One of our certified medical professionals administers the first injection based on the patient’s history and a pre-decided dosage and treatment duration.
- We then perform ongoing injections, monitoring and support throughout the treatment process.
It’s important to note that Sublocade treatment can continue for months or longer, depending on a patient’s history of addiction, withdrawal, relapse, lifestyle and other factors.
What to Expect During Treatment
State and federal agencies have only approved injection of Sublocade by a certified healthcare provider because self-injection can cause injury or death. Some patients can also experience severe side effects.
After the injection, a patient normally experiences some discomfort and light swelling at the injection site. They commonly begin to see withdrawal and craving improvements soon after their first injection. They might see a reduction of symptoms within a few short hours. The drug reaches its normal sustained level in approximately 24 hours.
With a comprehensive addiction treatment plan, Sublocade reduces distractions and allows a patient to turn their focus to other aspects of treatment that are important for their long-term sobriety faster than other MAT options. They can almost immediately begin the long processes of individual, group and family counseling and therapy and learning more about why they became addicted to one or more substances and how to cope with life better. They can also receive support to deal with underlying conditions.
Common Side Effects of Sublocade
Sublocade usually produces mild side effects beyond injection site reactions, such as itching or pain. Other common side effects include constipation, fatigue, headache, and nausea. If the drug fails to work as expected, as indicated by symptoms of withdrawal or sudden cravings, the patient should immediately speak with their physician. Of course, as with any drug, more serious side effects can occur.
Patients should seek immediate emergency assistance if they experience any of the following:
- Signs of Respiratory Depression: Seconds matter if a patient suddenly breathes faster or slower than normal or shows signs of life-threatening breathing problems, such as bluish skin near the mouth or around fingernails, chest pain, grunting, leaning forward, sweating, or wheezing.
- Severe Drowsiness or Sleepiness: Feeling dizzy, faint, sleepy, or uncoordinated. This could indicate excessive sedation.
- Allergic Reactions: Hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Liver Problems: Appetite loss, nausea, right-side pain, tea-colored urine, or yellow eyes and skin.
- Signs of Physical Dependence: While Sublocade is used to treat opioid dependence, it can also lead to physical dependence. Symptoms of withdrawal may occur if the medication is stopped abruptly.
Important Safety Information
- Interactions with Other Medications: Other medications and substances taken while using Sublocade can cause severe side effects and even coma or death. Never drink alcohol or take other central nervous system depressants or opioids during treatment with Sublocade.
- Naloxone and Sublocade: Naloxone (used for opioid overdose) may not be effective in reversing the effects of Sublocade.
It’s important to remember that medication-assisted treatment like Sublocade is most effective when combined with psychosocial support, such as counseling or therapy. This can help address the underlying causes of addiction and provide patients with the tools they need to maintain long-term recovery.
Cost and Insurance Coverage
Per Indivior, Inc., the manufacturer of Sublocade, the list price of 100 mg and 300 mg dosage forms to wholesalers and retailers before discounts and rebates is $2,016.52, as of January 2025. Patients with insurance coverage for Sublocade rarely pay more than a few dollars as a copayment. That said, not all insurance plans cover this treatment.
Garden State Treatment Center accepts many different insurance plans specifically designed for alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs from popular insurers. Those companies and plans include, but are not limited to, Aetna, AmeriHealth, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Beacon Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, CoreSource, Empire BCBS, GEHA, Horizon BCBS, Humana, Magellan, Meritain, New York State Health Insurance Plan, and Tricare.
That said, our staff goes the extra mile to help patients better understand their insurance and other payment options via an insurance verification process. Patients can request verification of benefits via a convenient online form. If an insurer doesn’t cover part or all of the treatment, other financial assistance options exist, such as the InSupport Copay Assistance Program for on-label usage for non-government-funded insurance plans. Many non-profit organizations that help with addiction services also offer copay and treatment payment assistance.
Ask About Sublocade and Other Treatment Options
Most people can’t end their opioid addiction on their own. They need professional support to guarantee that they safely make it through withdrawal and cravings without harmful side effects or relapse. Garden State Treatment Center now offers Sublocade injections because we recognize that it’s an innovative and effective treatment for individuals struggling with opioid use disorder.
Whether you or someone in your life who needs caring, supportive rehabilitation and recovery services is local to Sparta Township or visiting from another New Jersey area or even New York, our team of certified, compassionate professionals helps clients to make informed decisions about treatment. For more information about Sublocade or other treatment options, call us today.
