Sublocade - A New Kind Of Suboxone (Page 2)
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So there's a new kind of SUBOXONE out and it's called SUBLOCADE. It's a once a month injection done by a medical professional that lasts ALL month. So no more having to take it sublingually (under the tongue) daily anymore. I just found out about this last week and was wanting anyone's input about it. I don't know how I feel about it. What if it doesn't work ALL month and on week 3 you start feeling like s***? Can you go back to the doctor and get another shot or will they just give you a couple sublingual suboxone to make it through till the next week? I guess it's a pretty big dissolvable thing that slowly releases about 2mg a day into your bloodstream. Once again, I'm not sure how i feel about that. What if something happens and it ALL gets released at once? I'm sure that's bound to happen once every so often. Do please write back letting me know how you guys feel about this, or if you have any new info that I'm leaving out. Thank you.

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Re: Kimberly123 (# 44)

I know this is an old board, but I am making the change today and am scared. How much suboxone were you on before the switch if you don’t mind me asking?

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Does Sublocade block opiates? Or does it only partially block?

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Re: Addixn Doc (# 39)

I ended up getting the Sublocade injection, and it has been absolutely wonderful. I'm two weeks into my third shot (100mg) and cannot imagine going back to sublingual buprenorphine. The transition couldn't have been any smoother, there are no ups and downs with this med, I now sleep so much better at night, and it's a great relief not having to deal with the pharmacy every month as they were often out of buprenorphine. Also, the shot is virtually painless (lidocaine is used) and a very quick process. If anyone out there is considering Sublocade, I urge you to try it!

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Sublocade for me, worked very well with very minimal side effects & the ones I experienced were mental, not physical. For example, when you are accustomed to putting medication in your mouth on a daily basis for long periods of time, and all of a sudden there's no longer any need for that as this is an injection given in your stomach area. To sum it up.... It was a wise choice for me & helped me tremendously. If given a choice, I'd choose Sublocade opposed to Suboxone or Subutex any day.

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Re: RAWDOG (# 9)

It's not administered intravenously. It's subcutaneous... a liquid that turns into a gel. Also, the company indicates that it's equal to 12 - 24 mg per day, depending whether you're on the 300mg or 100mg injection. Sublocade being equal to 2mg per day of buprenorphine is false. Your post is old, so you've probably learned more about it by now. I'm on Sublocade and think it's the future of addiction medicine.

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Re: Sarah (# 42)

Hi, Sarah

You should be very proud of yourself for having the strength & determination of making that choice to switch to Sublocade! That's such a huge deal to addicts like you & I. I've been exactly where you are right this moment both mentally & physically and let me tell ya, it isn't easy at first but I can assure you, without a doubt that it does get better. Everything you're experiencing right now is normal & it's temporary. You will start to feel much better soon. Just know that when you do start to feel better & your body & mind has gotten accustomed to the change of Sublocade, it will be great thing. Much more convenient. You'll see & you'll be glad you made that decision to switch to Sublocade. Keep us posted. I'm interested in your thoughts & feelings as you get thru this as I'm right there going thru the same journey. Take Care.

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Hi, Everyone! It's been a while since I last posted any updates with my experience, thoughts & feelings with My Sublocade injections. It's now January 2019 & I've had approximately 4 or 5 injections thus far. As some of you know, I was so hesitant & full of fear pre Sublocade. Fast forward to today & in all the injections & time in between I last posted, I have absolutely NO complaints! After I got through that initial 1 to 2 months, everything has been just fine. The Pros of Sublocade certainly outweigh the Cons. It's well worth it y'all!

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I just started sublocade a few days ago. The only trouble I am having is the mental part of addiction. Trying different things to get through that bit it seems to be keeping me from being ill. I heard most people have found their "groove" of being comfortable after the first 4 or 5 days. This is my day 3 so I hope to only feel better from here. I do have headaches and sleepiness but if I get up and get moving both subside. I think it's definitely something you have to mentally prepare for and really want to do for the full benefits. I hope this helps. Here is to freedom from these drugs once and for all....!

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Re: Addixn Doc (# 39)

I guess I'm influenced by the negative Sublocade reviews I've read online as there are quite a few. My doctor has assured me that every patient she has on Sublocade is doing very well. I will most likely end up trying it.
I have some fear related to not taking daily sublingual Subutex, which I realize is part of my addiction. Thank you for the reply.

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Re: Kimberly 123 (# 37)

I'm updating again to tell y'all of my diagnosis. I actually have a severe bladder infection & supposedly that's what's causing the fever, the chills, & also dizziness. Who knew?

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Re: Elle07 (# 38)

Sublocade actually has no specific indication for persons on lower ranges of Suboxone/ Subutex. All the research data shows 100% success in persons in dose ranges 8/12/24 mg daily. I have also seen success in the 2-4 mg daily range. No patients experienced any withdrawal at 4 weeks, and most that dropped out of the study still felt no withdrawal after 2 to 5 months.

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I think Sublocade is a great option for someone on a dose of 4mg or less per day. I was ready to get this shot last week, but put it off. I'm on 8mg of Subutex per day, and, from all my research, don't feel the Sublocade will cover that. I can save some Subutex for the month, but then why bother...? The thought of a monthly shot is awesome and sounds like freedom, but I've opted to wait.

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Re: Rawdog (# 36)

I'm going to the doctor & I will definitely let you know. I've also been having problems with me left ear, a little drainage. So, I very well could have an ear infection.

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Re: wanKimberly 123 (# 35)

Hey hope you feel better, I'm interested in finding out what thet diagnose you with. The reason I say this is because I have these exact symptoms quite often. I thought is was because I would run thru my pain medication and have a week n a half to two weeks where I would have to take subs(both strips and subutex) to make it to my next fill date. And some of my friends thought it was a shock to my system and it was my body reacting from going from one extreme to another.
Later I found out it was due to Menier's Disease an inner ear issue where it would cause me to get severe vertigo something I don't wish upon my worst enemy!!! So with that being said please let me know your outcome and my prayers go out to you

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Re: Addxn Doc (# 34)

Hi, I wanted to update you & others about my physical & mental state & it started 2 days ago. I have fever, chills & I'm extremely dizzy. Now, I don't know if it's at all related to Sublocade. I called my doctor & he seems to think I have a bug. Very well could be. I can tell you that what I'm feeling doesn't compare at all to withdrawls. I'm, hopefully going to a walk in clinic today to set my mind at ease & hopefully, it isn't the flu, either. Thanks for reading!

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Re: Kimberly 123 (# 31)

Hi Kimberly, Thanks so much for sharing honestly your story! I like your gut level honesty about how your mind took you all over the place about the change to the injection. I gather from what you shared that your Doc may suspect a lot of diversion from his practice for whatever reason among many of his or her patients. The fact he offered you the option to switch back makes much more sense. The unfortunate fact is many patients, unlike yourself, come into clinic and try to slip through the cracks to get meds to sell only. They really mess things up and when they get busted dealing it always makes major headlines. My patients have had excellent results with Sublocade so far. I have had zero complaints and all want to stay on the injection. The injection does leave a pea sized lump which is normal. It is deposited in a matrix in the subcutaneous fat layer of skin that causes very slow release over a month or longer. If anyone has an issue with the injection for any reason, it can be surgically removed within 2 weeks of getting the shot in case of any emergency.

I do have one patient that has continued with the 300 mg dose for his 3rd & 4th injection due to very severe pain issues. Others have switched to 100 mg with no problems at all. I also have an interesting patient that wants to come off meds altogether so he received one injection 13 weeks ago now and still feels no withdrawal at all! We stay in contact every week and he is doing amazing. All of my pts have stated the same thing as you about not taking something every day. This is where the very real "process addiction" comes in to treatment. The daily act of taking something and now removing that process becomes a huge part of the recovery process. Thank you so much for sharing your honest experience with this. It really helps others when they can read about others success & experience. As you are probably very aware, when people read stuff like {projected fear & bad potential side effects from people who have not taken the injection}, and have no actual, real experience, it scares the hell out of them unnecessarily due to fear instilled by others. So Happy for you, All the best to your continued success!

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Re: Rawdog (# 32)

Hi, I still have no complaints after having the shot! Now, the first day after getting home, I felt as if I had taken some narcotic pain medication; A euphoric feeling somewhat. The 2nd day as well. From then on, I've just felt normal/nothing abnormally. Although, I do still have that urge to go to my purse to get a Suboxone. There's very minimal discomfort where she injected the medication. However, there is a small sized lump or hard spot. The injection comes in 300 mg. & 100 mg. The first 2 injections will be the 300 mg. Beginning on the third time you receive the injection, you will be given the 100mg. from there on out unless you & your doctor decide you may still need the 300 mg. dose longer than 2 months, that's certainly an option as well. Just depends on the individual & their need to remain on the 300 mg as 100 mg may be too low of a dose for some people. The way the medication works once it is injected, it forms a small knot or ball & they actually compared it to a small balloon being pricked with a very small needle & that allows the medication to dispense slowly at a steady pace all month long. I seem to be just fine so far. I certainly hope to remain that way. I will keep updating as the weeks go on.

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Re: Kimberly 123 (# 31)

Thank for your story, and I fully understand the whole selling them game. Your right it is a small fortune to some. But if the doc thinks everyone is out there selling them he's just as much to blame!! Please keep me updated on how the first week was. And did you feel a rush on your first few days or did it feel like you didn't take anything? How many MG'S were you taking daily prior to the shot? And how many mg's are released daily with the shot? And can the shot be adjusted to release more or less mg's a day?? Hope all goes well for you, can't wait to hear back from ya!!

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Re: AddxnDoc (# 29)

Hi, I know it's been a while since our last conversation about the Sublocade inj. but I have an important update about my current situation with my doctor & the decision of accepting the Sublocade inj.. Last month during my September doctor's visit, I informed him of my concerns & fears about the Sublocade inj., which he had already submitted a Prior Authorization & had the Sublocade ready to have his nurse administrator it to me. I asked him to please give me a couple of weeks to think more about having to receive the inj. because I was so full of fear & anxiety that he & the administering nurse clearly could see my facial expression & that I was really afraid & didn't want to have to be forced to change to Sublocade. So, he agreed to give me 2 more weeks to have time to get use to the thought of it & hopefully some of my fear & anxiety will have subsided somewhat in those 2 weeks. So, fast forward to yesterday which was Friday, 10/12/18. I pretty much at that point was just simply mentally exhausted from thinking & thinking some more & overthinking this change I was being forced to make by my doctor, but of course.... I could have just refused & been forced to find myself another doctor who has all the credentials, certifications & other requirements to even be able to treat a patient with substance abuse with Suboxone or any other opioid blocker which finding another doctor with these qualifications & not to mention who is accepting new patients & accepts my particular insurance is literally an act of Congress.

You learn fast that if you are well established with a doctor that you do everything you can to keep that doctor. I'm so sorry for going into such great detail so, I'll get to it.... I received my first Sublocade inj. yesterday. I really had no choice if I wanted to keep my current doctor. But, he did confide in me somewhat & informed me the ones who out right refused to even try the inj. are the exact ones he had been suspicious of either not taking their Suboxone at all & just selling them which is a small fortune for some who do choose to illegally sell their medication or they just weren't willing to give the inj. a try because they refused to give up the income they were receiving from the sales & chose to find another doctor. He also told me that if after giving it a fair chance & I or any other patient didn't do well with the inj. and wanted to seitch back to the Suboxone films or tablets, that he would be ok with that. Having said everything I've said, I can honestly say... I'm glad that I chose to try the Sublocade. I will update as the days & weeks of this month go by. Thanks for reading!

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Re: AddxnDoc (# 29)

All of his patients have to switch from the films to the injection. This is the only form of Suboxone he will offer starting next month he said. I just would like to know if that's legal for him to give us no choice in the matter.

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