Buprenorphine for Opiate Dependence - Maintenance User Reviews (Page 3)

• Pretty...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 15, 2022

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "I started on Suboxone 2 years ago. It was fine. No side effects really except constipation. I didn't like taking it daily, the whole routine of it, and absolutely didn't like the taste. So I switched to sublocade. I didn't notice the transition except being really tired for about two months. I have nothing but good things to say about it and it's kept me opiate/heroin free for two years. I have absolutely no desire to use so I've decided to go off sublocade cold turkey. After reading the reviews I'm quite confident."

• Els
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 7, 2023

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "My story is just like everyone else's. I'm 44 and have been addicted to opiates for the last 20+ years. I was on 16mg of Suboxone a day for the last 4 years. Before that, it was methadone, Dilaudid, Crack, Benzos, Oxy's, Heroin, and just about everything else. I got clean 5 years ago and relapsed 5 months in. I was sick and tired of Suboxone. I feel like it took my sex drive away and didn't like the ups and downs that came along with it. I also felt numb. I decided I was going to switch from Subs to Sublocade 2 months ago. I wanted to do just 1 shot and never go back. I can deal with minor withdrawals. After one month I had minor withdrawals. I haven't gone back for my second shot. What I can tell you is that it was a very easy switch. After a month and a half, I got my sex drive back and I can feel again. I poop like a normal person now. I know this drug stays in your system for a while but for me, it's been great. I'd recommend it to anyone who can't get off subs."

• SGTCO...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 18, 2020

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "Had my very first Sublocade injection today. So far I’m really good, it seems to work. HOWEVER! The injection hurt so much, I almost passed out. Know, I’m no stranger to pain, having completed seven years in the US Army (honorably) so know when I say that the sublocade injection was one of the most painful experiences I’ve ever had to endure, like fire being poured into my nervous system...for a full minute (I had the larger dose), that you will know I am not faint of heart or have a low pain threshold. Seriously, I don’t know if I can do that again...willingly."

• Luckbox
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 15, 2018

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "The shot is painful, but only takes 30 seconds. 30 seconds for 30 days is a trade off I'm good with. It works. Does everything it claims. Couldn't be happier or agree more with the below positive reviews. I will say tho if you aren't taking 12mgs+ a day, that 300mg shot is going to be very strong, you will sleep hard. Highly recommend! I have great insurance and I'm willing to pay out of network costs just for this."

• Tonya
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2020

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "I got my 1st sublocade shot today. I have been on suboxone for a long time. I started off 3- 8mg strips a day down to 1 mg subutex a day but it just wasn't enough so I went to 2 mg and have been on that for about 2 years up until 3 weeks ago I went to 4 when I switched doctors. She mentioned the shot and said she has had a lot of success with it so I thought why not try it!! I'm not really going thru anything but I do feel like my energy isn't there but I'm wondering if its because it's in my mind? I do have a question though how often does it release the medicine?"

• Drew
• April 9, 2019

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "So been on suboxone for 4 years now in maintenance I take two 8mg strips a day and heard about this suboxone shot because taking strips twice a day becomes an inconvenience. I took the shot Friday at 1:30 pm didn’t burn as bad as some people say started to feel the injection with in a couple hours that night I felt I had a pretty high dose of it in my body next day Saturday felt great plenty of energy and no negative symptoms at all felt amazing Sunday night started to slightly get tired and out of it it’s now Monday night and I feel horrible like I’m withdrawing like a really bad flu so now I have to make a decision on what to do if any one on here has advice on what I should do please answer my message I would greatly appreciate it I’m not sure if I should wait it out and see what happens will it get better or worse I’m crossing my fingers and I hope this advice helps someone out there."

• Steve
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 16, 2019

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "Been on 16mgs of suboxone for 6 months. Got sick of running out too quick. Loved suboxone too much. A few times I let my self going into withdrawals by skipping my dose for a few days just so I would feel high when I took it again. Way too much of an addict to take suboxone. Just got my first Sublocade injection. Might be placebo cause it’s only been an hour and I already have that sunny day warm brain feeling lol. Ran out of my subs two days ago so I was craving opiates pretty bad. Really hope this works. Pain wasn’t too bad. Felt like a getting a tattoo for 30 seconds."

• Sash
• February 19, 2020

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "I am on my 3rd injection. The first really worked. The second one was useless. My 3rd shot and it worked and helped my chronic pain the first 3 days, now in day 5 and feels like it’s stopped working. I’m wondering how well and how truly effective these shots are. It’s so new on the market that I’m leery, especially after my 2nd one feeling completely useless. If it continues like this, I’m going to ask to go back to the pills."

• Sam
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 21, 2019

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "**I tried to ask my doctor the equivalent of suboxone to sublocade... I guess there isn’t an answer** After being on Suboxone for the past 2 years. I felt I was suddenly pushed into this by my doctor. They’ve been giving it to all their other clients. I heard “everyone feels great on it” and I thought hey it’d be nice to not have to take it daily. (2/ 8mg films once daily) it left a ROCK in my stomach from the actual injection (which wasn’t too bad (WITH the novocaine)). So fast forward it’s about my 3rd week on it. I just woke up & have no desire whatsoever to get out of bed. When I do get up I feel like puking (not in a good way) and the nausea has been EVERY single day along with very annoying headaches. Not sure why it’s so expensive? Likely because it is new."

• Sworzie
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 28, 2021

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "I thought Sublocade was going to be a godsend. Not going to a pharmacy every day, only having to get injected once a month. This injection stays in your body for a long period of time. It has been over 4 months since my last injection and I still have a prominent amount in my system. It causes extreme nightmares, constipation, sleep irregularities/difficulties, weight gain, hunger, balance issues. Please be aware that this medicine isn't as great as you'd think."

• Dave
• December 26, 2018

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "I have been taking 8 mg of suboxone for 2.5 years now, and decided to make the switch to the shot to break the habit of waking up and expecting to take something every morning. 2 hours in and I am a little tired, but other than that all is well. Have not taken any suboxone since yesterday morning and so far no withdrawal symptoms. So that’s 32 hours without suboxone and getting the shot 2 hours ago with no withdrawal so far, I think I’m good to go. I was told some people experience withdrawal at the beginning of getting this shot, but I think that only happens to those that switch from a very high dose of suboxone (above 12 mg) without tapering down some first. I’m no doctor, but have plenty of experience with addiction. My suggestion would be to make sure your on a regular dose of 8 mg per day of suboxone before getting the shot. If you do, and attend NA meetings regularly, this medicine is really a life saver. Don’t depend on the medicine alone, get involved in your local NA!!"

• Anubis
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 3, 2019

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "Took my first shot of Sublocade 300 mg about four hours ago. It stings pretty bad, could feel the medicine clogging up when it hit my body fluid but it’s a good trade off for “30 Days” and so far it’s mainly just weird not taking anything Is the biggest part for me. It feels a lot cleaner due to route of administration. Was on 12 mg suboxone/day and don’t really have the ups & downs and headaches, etc. from taking too much buprenorphine, but it does feel a lot cleaner. I felt I was almost in bondage having to take my suboxone every morning, looking forward to it, having to take more meds, etc. so it feels better not having to feel like I’m in bondage to my medicine. It’s only the first day but so far I already feel “cleaner”"

• Soda...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 26, 2019

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "I just got my first shot today.I been on suboxone sublingual meds around 4 years now. The injection was kinda painful for just a minute but all went away before I left doctor office. So far I feel fine it has already taken a lot off my mind not having to worry about taking medicine tomorrow. If you are worried about the pain of the injection don't let that hold you back."

• Katy
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 26, 2022

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "I've been an opiate addict for 20 years now. After 5 years on Suboxone I was looking for a new solution. I ended up going with Sublocade. I had two 300mg injections and one 100mg. It's been 2 months now since my last injection and I'm still feeling great. The only side effects I had while on the injection was tiredness and constipation. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who is ready to be sober."

• Jak
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 14, 2021

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "I just got my first injection last week. We started off at 100mg with intentions of weaning myself off within a few months, I have been on oral subutex for almost 3 years. I have been EXTREMELY tired, to the point every time I lay down with my daughter I am fighting sleep, or passing out. This including nap time before 1pm and bedtime at 8pm. Did anyone else experience this? If so, does it go away? What shall I do?"

• joe
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2023

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "I had my fourth 300mg shot yesterday and feel awful: nauseated and badly constipated. I will not be getting any more shots because it did not work for me at all. I might even lose my job because I was too sick to go to work. I have been on Suboxone strips for 13 years and am dying to get off, but I will most likely be on it for my whole life. It's all about the money. Remember that they are not trying to cure anyone. The reason I say this is that Buprenorphine, which is sold alone in tablets, works better than Suboxone with no Naloxone and only costs 30.00 dollars for a month supply, whereas Suboxone strips cost hundreds of dollars. The VA medical board told doctors to stop prescribing it about 4 years ago and the only way to get this cheap medication is to be pregnant or allergic to Naloxone. It's a 50-50 shot with Sublocade. It did not work for me and I am stopping. No more for me. It makes me feel like rubbish"

• steph...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 10, 2023

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "I had high hopes for this treatment, just like everyone else who tried it. I did my research and was very optimistic. However, I have had to take zubox every other day, otherwise I experience withdrawal symptoms and feel sick. Today, I am supposed to receive my next shot, and I still hope it will work, but so far it has been a terrible month. I hope my doctor believes me and allows me to go back to zubox."

• Nicole
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 7, 2020

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "I've been on Suboxone for 3 years. I started out on 16mg and weaned down to 3mg a day (i took 1.5 2mg strips a day). I started out on 100mg Sublocade. I had my first injection yesterday. The medication did burn going in and about 20-30 seconds after. The injection site was sore yesterday, but it is fine today. I feel good, but I have had chills (unsure if it's related to the Sublocade or if I'm coming down with something). It has been strange not waking up and taking anything, but it's also nice. I will update later on in the month when it's time for my next injection, but so far, so good."

• Swim
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2018

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "Been on Suboxone for a little over a year and a half, taking the smallest amounts possible just to stave off the withdrawal symptoms that come with Suboxone. Got addicted after a friend offered me them as a treatment for my addiction problem. Anyway a year and a half trying tapering down and suffering with Suboxone I went to the doctors myself and got the 300 sublocade shot yesterday. So far been very sleepy, dizzy, and blurry vision, these side effects are going away slowly through the day tho. Read someone had a great experience, happy to have read that. Will post back when further into the program."

• Kassy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 24, 2018

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "I just received my first sublocade shot on Tuesday at 12:40 I had been on suboxone for 4 years and would a lot of times run out of my prescription early because I would always think one more to feel better just one more of course the only thing it might of done is give me energy for a little while but since receiving the shot I have to admit I'm not too impressed. Of course at this time my head could still be messing with me because I am having issues with the part of taking something everyday but I'm very very tired with no energy so I feel like rubbish and I'm still having some hot flashes I'm hoping it will get better and it will work because I want this to work but as of now I'd say the suboxone strips are a lot better but I will keep posting updates because I looked and looked for reviews before switching and couldn't find any so I'd like to help people by my story"

• Crypto
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 27, 2018

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "I have been on 8mg Suboxone for 12 months and transitioned to Sublocade 300mg, 4 days ago. I think my Dr. messed up the shot as I was his first Sublocade patient. I have a blister on the site where it was injected, I don't think he put the needle in far enough. Anyways, aside from that, the shot has worked as intended. The first day I felt normal after, I was instructed to take my dose before the shot but I only took 4mg. I feel great 4 days later, my second day I felt a little WD but not much. Day 3 and 4 have been totally normal so far. I hope the blister heals and hope my experience is better than some on this thread. I'll update at week 2."

• Trent
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2018

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "Just awful. I was taking 16 mg of generic buprenorphine a day and decided to try this out because I was sick of having to take my meds twice a day. Days 1-3 were ok but starting day 4 I noticed that the craving were back and I felt way more tired, day 5 I was in full withdrawal. I ended up going back to the doctor and he put me back on my original dose. Be advised that this works very well for some and is a complete disaster for others."

• Kim
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 28, 2019

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "Its been under 24 hrs since my first Sublocade injection. I am very pleased so far. I was on 16 Mg's of Suboxone daily but it wasn't absorbing into my system. My levels were always at or below 70. I felt horrible. So after suffering, since I got off the opiates, for the zillionth time, I was desperate for something to help me feel better. So far, I feel a huge difference. I'm very pleasantly surprised. So far, but as far as the first 24 hrs on it.....huge improvement in how I feel."

• Appy
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 1, 2018

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "Scared, after reading comments of sublocade, which I had the shot today. I really hope I don't have withdrawals. But I'm use to only taking 12 mg a day. Been on suboxone 1 year, before that methadone. It seems most people are honest but I'd like to know for the people who haven't had issue with sublocade are you pot smokers or taking any other meds that might be helping you deal with the switch? Cause I don't and I want to be able to balance the reviews out. Thanks"

• Slick...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2019

Sublocade (buprenorphine) "So today is my first day in sublocade. I've been on subutex 2 years this time. But I've been on them all. Methadone, dope, suboxone a few times for each. I was on heroin and xanax since 2002. I was a real struggle for me to get clean but I kept trying. Anyway, I got tired of the up and down on subutex. Feel great in the morning and tired around 6pm. Plus my sleep was screwed. So I read that this stuff is supposed to be much smoother. So I took the shot about 5 hrs ago and I feel it already. It's not bad at all. I like it actually. I forgot to say I was on 16mg of sub. Anyway I'll keep updating"