Overview
Sublocade is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of moderate to severe opioid use disorder (OUD) in individuals who have already started treatment with a transmucosal buprenorphine product or are currently receiving buprenorphine. It is prescribed as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes counseling and psychosocial support. Sublocade is also known by its drug name, buprenorphine extended-release.

Sublocade belongs to the drug category of partial opioid agonists. It works by activating opioid receptors in the brain but to a lesser extent than full opioids, helping reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings without producing the same "high," thereby assisting in managing opioid dependence.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Sublocade is given as a monthly subcutaneous (under the skin) injection by a healthcare provider, typically in the abdomen, thigh, buttock, or upper arm. Treatment starts with two monthly doses, followed by monthly maintenance doses. The maintenance dose may be increased if benefits outweigh risks. The injection sites should be rotated with each dose. A person must receive an initial dose of transmucosal buprenorphine before the first Sublocade injection and be monitored for withdrawal or sedation symptoms before leaving the healthcare setting. The medication must be given exactly as prescribed.

Side effects
Common side effects of Sublocade include constipation, headache, nausea, injection site pruritus (itching), vomiting, increased liver enzymes, fatigue, and injection site pain.

Rare but serious side effects may include life-threatening respiratory depression (slowed or difficult breathing), severe allergic reactions, adrenal insufficiency (inadequate hormone production by adrenal glands), withdrawal symptoms if treatment is stopped abruptly, and serious injection site reactions, such as infection or inflammation.

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Label: Sublocade — Buprenorphine Solution — DailyMed