How does Sublocade work?
What is Sublocade?
Sublocade is used for treatment of moderate to severe opioid use disorder, to reduce cravings for opioids. It needs to be taken together with counseling and psychosocial support. Sublocade is partial mu-receptor agonist.
How does Sublocade work?
- When you take an opioid such as heroin or morphine, the drug binds fully to a receptor (mu-receptor) which gives the pleasure or high that you get when taking that drug.
- When you take Sublocade it binds to the same mu-receptor more easily than other drugs, but even though the Subocade binds to the receptor really well, it doesn’t work properly to switch it on, so you don’t get the high or pleasure sensation.
- So instead of giving you a high, the effect of Sublocade is that it prevents your cravings.
- So the Sublocade works to help stop the cravings, without the high, by binding to the mu-receptor.
Related questions
- What are the different brands of buprenorphine?
- Is buprenorphine an opiate / narcotic?
- What is the difference between Sublocade and Brixadi?
Why do you need to take oral forms of buprenorphine before you start Sublocade?
Sublocade (buprenorphine) is an extended-release, once-monthly injection that steadily releases buprenorphine into your bloodstream.
- You can only start on Sublocade when you are fully detoxified, if you are not detoxified Sublocade will cause precipitated withdrawal, which can be severe and potentially serious.
- To prevent precipitated withdrawal Sublocade can only be started on people who have been stable for at least a week, on the daily form of buprenorphine that you take under your tongue or inside your cheek.
- Once stabilized on daily buprenorphine for at least a week, then you can start the Sublocade extended-release injection which is given monthly, so will keep the cravings under long term control.
For more information see our slideshow: Opioid Use Disorder: These Treatments Are Available, Now.
References
Read next
How and where is the Sublocade injection given?
Sublocade is administered as an injection just under the skin (subcutaneous) of your stomach (abdomen), thigh, buttock, or back of the upper arm. After the first two injections, you will receive it monthly (with at least 26 days between doses). Continue reading
Is Sublocade covered by Medicaid?
Most patients with Medicaid typically pay low or no cost for Sublocade (buprenorphine) if it is a preferred drug treatment by their state health plan. Your health plan and costs are determined by your state Medicaid program. Continue reading
Is Probuphine better than Sublocade?
Probuphine and Sublocade are long-acting forms of buprenorphine, but the Probuphine brand has been discontinued in the United States. There is no evidence that one was better than the other. They were both used in long-term medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD). Continue reading
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Related medical questions
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- How is Sublocade administered?
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- How long does Sublocade last?
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Drug information
- Sublocade Information for Consumers
- Sublocade prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side Effects of Sublocade (detailed)
- Sublocade user reviews (307)
Related support groups
- Sublocade (20 questions, 41 members)
- Opiate Dependence (150 questions, 2,362 members)
- Opiate Dependence - Maintenance (17 questions, 30 members)