SUBLOCADE INJECTABLE
The SUBLOCADE injection is a recent pharmaceutical invention of buprenorphine extended-release administered as a subcutaneous injection for adults with moderate to severe opioid addiction whose withdrawal symptoms are first controlled by oral buprenorphine for 7 days. It is an extremely effective treatment option as it can last 4-6 weeks and guarantees abstinence from other opiate use for that duration and sometimes beyond. This a great achievement as too often compliance with medications tends to be poor among individuals struggling with addiction. As a result, too often the person succumbs to the intense cravings of the substance and has not yet gained a foothold or sufficient grounding in abstinence and recovery. What SUBLOCADE allows is time for a person to develop sufficient biological, psychological, emotional and spiritual strength to resist temptation and abstain from use. Similar to going away to inpatient rehab, the individual is assured of no substance use for a long period of time, without the cost, inconvenience and disruption of their normal life activities. Although other oral opioid replacement medications can be quite effective, SUBLOCADE lasts much longer, and this feature can only further protect the individual from relapse.
Buprenorphine is a semi-synthetic opioid partial agonist. This means that, although Buprenorphine is an opioid, and thus can produce typical opioid effects and side effects such as euphoria and respiratory depression, its maximal effects are less than those of full agonists like heroin and methadone. At low doses Buprenorphine produces sufficient agonist effect to enable opioid-addicted individuals to discontinue the misuse of opioids without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. The agonist effects of Buprenorphine increase linearly with increasing doses of the drug until it reaches a plateau and no longer continues to increase with further increases in dosage. This is called the "ceiling effect." Thus, Buprenorphine carries a lower risk of abuse, addiction, and side effects compared to full opioid agonists. It is also safe to prescribe on an outpatient basis, where a patient can leave the doctor’s office with a subcutaneous injection of SUBLOCADE ( buprenorphine extended-release ) and return at a later date, 4-6 weeks later, for a repeat injection.
SUBLOCADE is an FDA approved medication that has been gaining more recent attention as another long term alternative for opioid addiction.
Dr.Russo and his clinical team at The Recovery Centers continue to investigate and explore new cutting-edge treatment options in the battle to overcome addiction and save lives. The SUBLOCADE injection is one of those new protocols.