Sublocade and Headaches: What Users Say

• Jus...
• September 1, 2020

For Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "I attempted to get off Suboxone two or three times but never past 2 milligrams. I decided to try Sublocade as a way of getting off Suboxone, I would get one shot and then it would slowly leave my system. I went to the clinic for the shot of Sublocade, the injection was super painful as I have very little body fat, it hurt like anything. The injection site was sore for approximately 4 days. The first 2 days I felt 'sub high,' and on the 3rd, I had a super headache and did not feel well. Over the next three or four days, I was super tired and falling asleep in the afternoon. Approximately 7 days in, I began to feel better and I seemed to normalize. I noticed that I no longer feel sick in the morning, so I am no longer reminded of my problem. I began to get up normally and get rolling without issue. I am getting tired earlier in the evening, which is not a bad thing because I was going to bed at approximately 12 every night, now I'm going to bed at 11 and I suspect it will be 10 soon."

• Wif...
• May 26, 2018

For Opioid Use Disorder "My husband has been on Suboxone for three years. Three days ago, he received his first Sublocade injection. It does leave a knot at the injection site but isn't painful. The day of the shot, he experienced extreme euphoria (unusual for him with bup/nal) and said his head felt a lot of pressure but felt no withdrawal symptoms. Day two, the euphoric feeling was gone, but he said he felt like he'd been hit by a truck and had a massive headache. Still no withdrawal, though. Today is day three, and he woke up with another truly bad headache that made him nauseous. Still, though, no withdrawals. The goal is to eventually wean off the medication. He's being patient and trying to believe these side effects (reported as common) are just his body adapting to the new delivery system. The most important thing is to avoid debilitating withdrawal. For that purpose, it has been effective. I'll continue to post as he moves closer to the end of the first cycle and when he receives his second injection."

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 24, 2019

For Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "I have been on two 8 mg Suboxone for about 10 years. Weaning off and going through withdrawal has always been my biggest hurdle to quitting. My doctor mentioned this shot to me. Said minimal side effects and coming off the shot is nothing like strips. I had my first shot yesterday and felt fine, but day 2 and I feel awful. The worst stomach pain, nausea, and headache. I sure hope this goes away. The idea of not having to worry about taking meds every day is a Godsend."

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

For Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "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. (2/8 mg 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 and 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."

• Anu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 3, 2019

For Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "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 the route of administration. Was on 12 mg Suboxone/day and don’t really have the ups and 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.”"

• Liz...
• July 11, 2018

For Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "I got my first Sublocade injection about three weeks ago. The injection was pretty painful, but the pain only lasted for about 15 minutes. I felt great the first several days, but I started feeling like I was going through withdrawals on day 4-no energy, headache, nausea, stomach cramps, and hot flashes. My doctor called in some strips so I could take one a day, and that has helped a little. However, I still feel like I need to take two 8 mg strips a day to feel “normal.” I was taking 24 mg per day for the past 6 months before getting the shot. After thinking about it a lot, I have decided not to get the second injection. I was doing great on 24 mg a day, so I’m going to go back to Suboxone. I don’t want to spend another month feeling like crap. Hopefully, the shot will work for others, but it wasn’t for me. It seems to work well for those who have been on a low dose of Suboxone (8 mg or less per day)."

• Uns...
• March 16, 2020

For Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "I have been on Suboxone for 9 years and decided to try Sublocade. I am on my 6th day post-injection and still feeling terrible. 2 days after the injection, I landed myself in the ER with withdrawal, and from my experience, that is exactly what it felt like, and then I ended up back in the doctor's office. I now have to supplement my 8 mg tablets of Sub again. So for the past 4 days, I have taken 6 mg of an 8 mg tab, and yesterday I went to do the same thing. I still wasn't feeling great, and when I went to take my last 2 mg of the dose last night, I ended up feeling like I all of a sudden had too much of the med. So today, I decided to do 2 mg morning and 2 mg afternoon and nothing else today. The problem I'm having is that the first couple of days I know I wasn't getting any of the med and was in withdrawal. Since yesterday, I feel like I'm getting some of it, but I'm finding it hard to tell how much and still feel ill. I've been getting headaches, blurred vision, and fatigue."

• Rob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2019

For Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "I received the Sublocade shot 2 days ago, and tomorrow will be day 3. I have been on 16-22 mg of Zubsolv for about a month now, before that, 10-16 mg for a year. The shot hurt like anything and stung for over 10 minutes. Still sore when I lay on it and sensitive to the touch. Day 1, I felt amazing. Today, woke up with a massive headache, but it went away after breakfast. I feel okay today, but still manageable. If yesterday and today balance out, I will give Sublocade a 10/10. Too early to recommend, but so far pretty good."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 7, 2022

For Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "Run. Run far, far away! The first shot was rough, with a HORRIBLE headache that caused me to think I was having a stroke and lots of vomiting. This lasted about four days. I was convinced to take another. That was three weeks ago, and I have never regretted a decision more. I have been violently ill the ENTIRE TIME! A headache that will not go away at all and hurts so bad I can barely see and have tunnel vision. I vomit nonstop and can't hold food or drinks down. IV fluids several times already. I am lightheaded and run into walls nonstop. I have never been this physically sick in my 42 years of life. Multiple ER visits to be told it's the shot and nothing can be done. My doc refuses to help and tells me it's in my mind. Nonstop pain at my injection site. I was on Suboxone for two years and had zero issues. I have never regretted anything in my life more than taking this shot! PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH! I am appalled at all I have now read and seen. FYI, this is MY experience. May not be yours."

• Shl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 17, 2020

For Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "I am on my 6th day since my 1st 300 mg injection of Sublocade. I am starting to feel much better now, but I do have to supplement 4 mg per day of Suboxone to ease the withdrawal symptoms, and yes, I have been in withdrawal. I was previously a 10-year user of Suboxone, 8 mg per day straight for the last 6 months. I have had some side effects: headache, nausea, bad anxiety, but I believe it is going to work with time, possibly get me off altogether. Feeling better with time."

• Ang...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 2, 2018

For Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "I'm thinking of getting the Sublocade shot. The doctor is pushing for it a little too hard, too. That concerns me. He told me that it stays in the system for months when I said I was worried if I missed the next shot. That it gradually decreases but has been found 4-5 after the first dose. I suffer from a lot of headaches, and I'm in school and am worried I will get the shot and will have a headache. I can't get rid of other negative symptoms. I have been on Suboxone pills since February."

• FFs...
• June 1, 2021

For Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "I’ve been on Suboxone for over 20 years. Down to 2 mg per day. These days I just use it to take the edge off... but I’m really sick of it, TBH. Although I like the buzz I get from it, I’m tired of having to take it all the time. I don’t really get very sick from withdrawals, but it is uncomfortable, with the usual sweats, cramps, and headaches. I’m hoping this will make it easier. I saw all your success stories, so I figured what’s the worst that could happen? They started me on 64 mg Subudole. They said it’s similar to Sublocade but smaller doses for lower mg addicts. The dose definitely hurts (ouch!), but it goes away within 10 min. ATM I feel okay a few hours later. I definitely still have a buzz, so all good so far. I just want to live life free of this crap for once. Also, I’m on Effexor, which I’ve been able to get down to 75 mg, but I’m not going to lower that until I’m off subs completely. So far, so good."

• Mir...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 13, 2025

For Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "It's been 14 months since I began getting the shot. For the first 3 months, I was prescribed 24 mg of Suboxone at the same time and another month of tapering off the Suboxone. At first, I was afraid to stop taking Suboxone but quickly realized that it wasn't that difficult to stop. After the 1-year mark and blood tests showed that there were nearly no amounts of fentanyl in my system, I decided to start tapering off the Sublocade. I've gone from 300 mg to 100 mg. After a week, I have mild withdrawal symptoms like hot and cold spells, goosebumps, headache, tiredness, nausea, muscle aches, and sweats. The withdrawal feels very manageable compared to the mind-bending cold turkey method that is pure hell! This therapy has been like 'the hand of God' giving me a chance at a normal life after thinking I had a life sentence of fentanyl dependency. If the withdrawal symptoms get worse, my NP gave me the choice of a Suboxone script to help, but I'm pretty sure I got this!"