What is Sublocade?
Sublocade (buprenorphine) is used to treat addiction to opioids (addiction to opioids, which include heroin and other opioid painkillers) for those who have been treated with sublingual or buccal buprenorphine treatment for a minimum of 7 days.
Sublocade extended-release injectable is part of a class of medicines known as partial agonists of opiates. Buprenorphine helps to reduce withdrawal symptoms in people who stop taking opioids by causing similar effects to these substances.
Sublocade is only available through an exclusive program. It is necessary to be registered in the program and be aware of the potential risks and benefits of this medication.
Sublocade is not recommended for pain relief.
This guideline provides information on Sublocade, the Sublocade Buprenorphine brand. Buprenex is a different brand of buprenorphine that is used to treat severe to moderate pain.
Side effects of Sublocade
Contact a medical professional immediately. If you are experiencing symptoms that indicate you are experiencing an allergic reaction, Sublocade symptoms include hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling of your lips, face, and tongue. You may also experience throat swelling.
Opioid medication may slow or stop breathing, and death can occur. The person who is caring for you must administer Naloxone or seek medical attention if there is breath that is slow, with pauses for a long time, blue-colored lips, or if it is difficult to get up. Sublocade may cause serious side effects. Consult your physician right away. If you suffer from:
- Breath that is shallow or weak, and breathing that stops;
- Severe dizziness or extreme drowsiness, loss of coordination
- A lightheaded sensation, similar to passing out;
- The withdrawal signs of opioids Shivering and goosebumps; increased sweating sensation of cold or hot with runny eyes, a watery nose, diarrhea, vomiting;
- Liver issues nausea and stomach discomfort (upper right side) fatigue, itching or stinging, dark urine, stools that are clay-colored, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin), or
- Reduced hormones of the adrenal glands, nausea and vomiting, stomach discomfort, and loss of appetite. feeling lightheaded or tired; joint or muscle pain; skin discoloration; a desire for salty food.
You should seek medical attention immediately if you experience symptoms of serotonin syndrome, for example, agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, high heart rate, stiffness of muscles, or twitching. Also, you may experience loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Contact your physician immediately. If you experience withdrawal symptoms or an allergic reaction that lasts for weeks or months after the previous doses of Sublocade,
Common Sublocade side effects could include:
- Fatigue;
- Nausea, vomiting, and constipation;
- Itching, pain, redness, burning, irritation, or skin changes in the area where the injection was administered;
- Discomfort and burning sensations during urination;
- Difficulty sleep;
- Headache
- Abnormal tests for liver function.
This isn't an exhaustive list of all the side effects. Other side effects could occur. Contact your physician for advice regarding medical effects. You can report any side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Before you take this drug
It is not recommended to treat with Sublocade if you have an allergy to buprenorphine.
Inform your physician if you are taking any stimulant medication, such as opioids and herbal products, or medication for mental illness, depression, such as Parkinson's disease, chronic infections, or to prevent vomiting and nausea. The interaction with Sublocade may result in a severe disorder known as serotonin syndrome.
To ensure that Sublocade is safe for you, inform your doctor if you've ever experienced:
- Breathing issues, sleep apnea;
- A head injury or brain problem;
- Alcoholism, mental illness;
- An allergy to the latex
- An increased prostate
- Urination issues;
- Heart-related problems;
- An electrolyte imbalance (such as blood levels that are low in magnesium or potassium)
- Spinal curvature that can affect breathing
- Addison's disease (or another adrenal gland issue)
- Issues with your gallbladder or thyroid;
- Kidney or liver disease
Buprenorphine could affect fertility in both genders. The chances of getting pregnant are less likely to occur if either parent is taking this medication.
If you are taking buprenorphine during your pregnancy, your baby could be born with withdrawal symptoms that could be life-threatening and could require medical attention for a period of time. Tell your doctor that you are pregnant or plan to be pregnant.
Consult your physician if you are nursing. If you're breastfeeding, consult your physician when you experience severe fatigue or slow breathing in the baby who is nursing.
How to take Sublocade?
Sublocade is injected underneath the skin. The healthcare professional will administer the injection. After each injection, it is possible that you might feel or see an insignificant lump beneath your skin where the medication was administered. The lump could persist for a few weeks; however, it will gradually shrink. Avoid massaging or rubbing the area where an injection was administered and wearing tight clothes around the region. The doctor who treats you will determine the frequency of your treatment with Sublocade.
You'll require frequent blood tests to monitor the liver's function. Sublocade is just one component of a comprehensive treatment plan, which may include counseling or other forms of addiction treatment. Talk to your doctor if you think that this medication does not help reduce your signs of addiction.
In the event of an incident, you or your loved ones members or caregivers should inform medical professionals that you are taking this medication. Make sure any subsequent doctor is aware that you are taking this medication. Don't stop taking Sublocade abruptly, or you may experience uncomfortable signs (such as anxiety or tingling as well as electrical shock sensations).
Details on dosage:
Usual Adult Dose for Opiate Dependence: Maintenance:
Sublocade injection: Following a minimum of seven days of treatment using transmucosal products that deliver the equivalent of 8–24 mg buprenorphine daily,
Initial dosage: 300 mg subcutaneously twice every month for two months.
Maintenance dose: 100 mg subcutaneously, once each month.
The maintenance dose can increase to up to 300 mg a month for patients who are tolerant of lower doses and who have a less than adequate clinical outcome, e.g., self-reported opioid abuse as well as positive drug screening.
Comments:
Initiating therapy with subcutaneous injections has not been studied; subcutaneous injections should only be initiated following induction and dose adjustment with a transmucosal buprenorphine-containing product.
Doses for each month should allow at least a period of 26 days before a dose. Sometimes, dosing delays that last up to two weeks should not be a major influence on the effect of treatment.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Consult your physician for the proper treatment in the event that you don't make the appointment for the Sublocade shot.
What happens when I take too much?
In a medical environment, the overdose is immediately treated. The doctor might suggest getting Naloxone (a medication to treat the effects of an addiction to opioids) and carrying it around throughout the day. The person who is caring for you could administer the medication naloxone in case you cease breathing or don't regain consciousness. The caregiver should still seek medical assistance in an emergency and could be required to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on you as they wait for assistance to arrive.
You can purchase naloxone at pharmacies or your local health department. It is important that everyone who cares for you is aware of the location where you store your naloxone and how to utilize it.
What should be avoided?
Avoid driving or engaging in hazardous activities until you understand the effects of this medication on your body. Do not get up too fast from a seated or lying posture, as you could experience dizziness. Drowsiness or dizziness could cause accidents, falls, or even serious injuries. Avoid drinking or consuming alcohol. Dangerous side effects or death may occur.
Warnings
Risky side effects could occur when you drink alcohol or take other substances that cause a feeling of drowsiness or slow breathing.Sublocade can only be purchased through the specific program. You must be enrolled in the program and be aware of the risks and benefits associated with the medication.
Interaction with other drugs
It is sometimes not safe to take certain medications simultaneously. Certain medications can alter the blood levels of other medications that you are taking, which can cause more side effects or make medications less efficient. Inform your doctor if you are also taking some form of antibiotic or antifungal medication, seizure medication, or any other medicine that treats HIV as well as Hepatitis C.
A variety of other medications can be harmful when combined with opioids. Tell your doctor whether you use any of the following:
- Medicines to treat allergies, asthma, heart issues, and motion sickness Irritable bowel, overactive bladder;
- Other opioid medications;
- A benzodiazepine sedative such as Valium, Klonopin, or Xanax;
- Sleep medication and muscle relaxers, as well as other medicines that can make you sleepy;
- Serotonin-related medications Serotonin-related medications, for example, antidepressants, stimulants, antidepressants, or medications for Parkinson's disease
This isn't a complete list, and a variety of other medications could interfere with buprenorphine. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some interactions with drugs are not listed here. are listed here.
