Opioids such as heroin, morphine, fentanyl, and oxycodone are highly addictive and difficult to stop taking once you have started. Those who make the commitment to beating opioid addiction need a strong support system that includes counseling, therapy, and often medications.
Contact Connecticut Addiction Medicine at any of our locations to learn more about our opioid recovery services.
How does SUBLOCADE work?
Buprenorphine, the active drug in SUBLOCADE, is considered a partial opioid agonist, meaning that it activates the opioid receptors in the brain, but to a much lesser extent than full agonists like the most commonly abused opioids. Partial opioid agonists make withdrawal more gradual, easing the symptoms and helping patients to remain in recovery. For the first week or longer after a person stops taking opioids, they will be given a dissolvable dose of buprenorphine in their mouth daily. Once the initial burst of withdrawal symptoms are under control, addiction treatment professionals in Connecticut may switch the patient to SUBLOCADE. This form of buprenorphine is a subcutaneous injection in the belly given just once a month in an addiction clinic by a certified professional for ongoing management of withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
What conditions does it treat?
SUBLOCADE is used only to treat opioid use disorder as recommended by the Food And Drug Administration.
Does SUBLOCADE work?
SUBLOCADE is highly effective as for maintenance treatment of ongoing withdrawal symptoms and cravings resulting from stopping opioid use. SUBLOCADE is not used alone, but is prescribed in combination with a comprehensive opioid addiction treatment plan that includes pain management, therapy, psychological evaluation, support groups, drug education, and medical care. SUBLOCADE is suitable for long-term maintenance of cravings and withdrawal symptoms because it slowly releases buprenorphine over time, allowing patients to resume their pre-addiction lives while in recovery. SUBLOCADE is considered to be safe to use indefinitely as long as the patient is responding well and experiencing minimal, if any, side effects.
Dosage
The first two monthly doses of SUBLOCADE are usually 300 mg each. After that, the patient’s addiction recovery team will assess their progress and may shift to a maintenance dose of 100 mg per month. Some individuals remain at the 300 mg dose for longer or return to it if the 100 mg dose is not sufficient to relieve symptoms and reduce cravings.
Side Effects
Compared to the effects of opioids and many of the other withdrawal treatment options, those experienced by SUBLOCADE users are generally rare and mild, but may include:
- Physical dependence on SUBLOCADE
- Pain or itchiness at injection site
- Allergic reactions to buprenorphine
- Constipation
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sleepiness or dizziness
- Slowed breathing
- Low hormone levels
- Withdrawal when SUBLOCADE treatment stops
SUBLOCADE Treatment In Connecticut
During recovery from opioid addiction, many individuals experience uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. SUBLOCADE injections minimize the effects of withdrawal to ensure a higher rate of success in overcoming opioid addiction. A once-a-month SUBLOCADE injection prevents the withdrawals and cravings that occur during recovery from opioid addiction.
Connecticut Addiction Medicine is committed to providing accessible and effective opioid addiction recovery treatment. Make an appointment or walk in today to get started on your path to sobriety.
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