Sublocade is available through our MAT program at the following Mountainside locations: Canaan, CT, Wilton,CT, and Chappaqua, NY.
Q. What is Sublocade?
Sublocade is a monthly extended-release injection of the medication buprenorphine. It is used as a part of comprehensive Medication-Assisted Treatment to combat the painful effects of opioid withdrawal and reduces cravings. It should only be taken in a rehab setting under the supervision of a medical professional.
Q. What are Opioids?
Opioids, also known as opiates, are natural and synthetic drugs that interact with the nervous system to relieve pain. Most commonly abused opioids are heroin, morphine, and prescription painkillers like Demerol, OxyContin, and Vicodin.
Q. What is Buprenorphine?
Buprenorphine works as a partial agonist at the opioid receptors. It mitigates the subjective effects of opioid withdrawal, decreases opioid cravings, and blocks the drug-liking effects of opioid narcotics.
Q. How Does Sublocade Work?
Sublocade gradually releases a controlled dosage of buprenorphine into the body over time, blocking the rewarding effects of opioid drugs.
Q. Who is Sublocade for?
Sublocade is approved to be used for opioid addiction treatment in clients who have initiated treatment with transmucosal buprenorphine (Suboxone) followed by dose adjustment for a minimum of 7 days.
Q. Will I Have to Stay on It Forever?
Length of treatment varies depending on the individual and the severity of the addition. Our program is designed to be a minimum of six months. At the end of the six months, and at regular intervals during the course of your addiction treatment, the clinical team will review progress in treatment and will work with the client to identify the best next steps for their long-term recovery.
Q. What are Common Sublocade Side-Effects?
Some common side-effects of Sublocade include headaches, nausea, vomiting, constipation, itching near the injection site, fatigue, and an increase in liver enzymes.
Q. Is It Addictive?
There is potential for developing a dependency to Sublocade because it contains buprenorphine, a low-level opioid that is less intense than other opioids but still has addictive properties.
Q. Can You Overdose on Sublocade?
If administered by a medical professional, overdose is rare. However, it is possible to overdose on sublocade, especially if taken with alcohol or other drugs. An individual experiencing an overdose should seek immediate medical attention as symptoms could cause long-term damage or death.