Sublocade ratings & reviews

Buprenorphine
Company: Indivior
Brand: Sublocade
+4 more
Sublocade, Brixadi, Butrans, Subutex, Belbuca
Drug class: Central and Peripheral Nervous System
+6 more
Central and Peripheral Nervous System, Analgesics, Other CNS and PNS Agents, Opiate Agonists and Related Agents, Agents for Opioid-Related Disorders, Mixed Opiate Agonist-Antagonist, Agents for Opioid Dependence

Sermo AI Overview

  • Access can be challenging for Sublocade, and while it shows promise in treatment, some specialists prefer alternatives due to potentially lower misuse rates and more favorable accessibility factors, limiting Sublocade's widespread use.
  • Sublocade is generally regarded positively for its efficacy and safety, particularly in treating opiate agonist dependence, as many users report favorable outcomes and appreciate the injection for better adherence compared to sublingual options.
  • Healthcare professionals have mixed feelings about Sublocade's effectiveness for opiate agonist withdrawal, with some finding it suboptimal compared to alternatives, leading to concerns about its overall use in different patient populations.
Based on insights from Sermo’s triple verified physicians

Description

Sublocade contains buprenorphine in its free base form, which acts as a partial agonist at mu-opioid receptors and an antagonist at kappa-opioid receptors. It is an injectable solution with extended-release properties, available in 100 mg and 300 mg dosage strengths, delivered subcutaneously. Key inactive ingredients include a biodegradable polymer and the solvent NMP.

Source: This information is sourced from FDA and powered by AI

Dosage & Administration

How should I use this medication?

This medication is for injection under the skin. This medication is given in a hospital or clinic setting. A special MedGuide will be given to you by the pharmacist with each injection. Be sure to read this information carefully each time. Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. Special care may be needed.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once. NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

What if I miss a dose?

It is important not to miss your dose. Call your care team if you are unable to keep an appointment.

Where should I keep my medication?

This medication is given in a hospital or clinic. It will not be stored at home.

NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.

Side Effects

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medication?

Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible: -Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat -CNS depression—slow or shallow breathing, shortness of breath, feeling faint, dizziness, confusion, trouble staying awake -Heart rhythm changes—fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, chest pain, trouble breathing -Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue -Low adrenal gland function—nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, unusual weakness or fatigue, dizziness -Low blood pressure—dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, blurry vision Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome): -Constipation -Dizziness -Drowsiness -Dry mouth -Headache -Nausea -Pain, redness, or irritation at injection site -Vomiting

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Warnings & Precautions

What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions: -Brain tumor -Frequently drink alcohol -Gallbladder disease -Head injury -Heart disease -Irregular heartbeat or rhythm -Liver disease -Low adrenal gland function -Lung or breathing disease, such as asthma or COPD -Pancreatic disease -Seizures -Sleep apnea -Stomach or intestine problems -Substance use disorder -Taken an MAOI, such as Marplan, Nardil, or Parnate in the last 14 days -An unusual or allergic reaction to buprenorphine, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives -Pregnant or trying to get pregnant -Breastfeeding

What may interact with this medication?

Do not take this medication with any of the following: -Cisapride -Dronedarone -Pimozide -Safinamide -Samidorphan -Thioridazine This medication may also interact with the following: -Alcohol -Antihistamines for allergy, cough, and cold -Atropine -Benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam, diazepam, or lorazepam -Certain antibiotics, such as clarithromycin, erythromycin -Certain antivirals for hepatitis or HIV -Certain medications for bladder problems, such as oxybutynin or tolterodine -Certain medications for depression or mental health conditions -Certain medications for fungal infections, such as fluconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole -Certain medications for migraine headache like almotriptan, eletriptan, frovatriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, zolmitriptan -Certain medications for nausea or vomiting like dolasetron, ondansetron, palonosetron -Certain medications for seizures, such as carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin -Certain medications for stomach problems, such as dicyclomine or hyoscyamine -Certain medications for travel sickness, such as scopolamine -Certain medications for Parkinson disease, such as benztropine or trihexyphenidyl -Ipratropium -Linezolid -MAOIs, such as Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate -Medications that cause drowsiness before a procedure, such as propofol -Medications that help you fall asleep -Medications that relax muscles -Methylene blue (injected into a vein) -Other medications that cause heart rhythm changes -Opioid medications for pain or cough -Phenothiazines, such as chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine -Rifampin

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

What should I watch for while using this medication?

Visit your care team regularly. For this medication to be most effective, you should attend any counseling or support groups that your care team recommends. Do not try to overcome the effects of the medication by taking large amounts of opioids. This can cause severe problems including death. Also, you may be more sensitive to lower doses of opioids after you stop taking this medication. Wear a medical ID bracelet or chain. Carry a card that describes your condition. List the medications and doses you take on the card. Taking this medication with other substances that cause drowsiness, such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other opioids can cause serious side effects. Give your care team a list of all medications you use. They will tell you how much medication to take. Do not take more medication than directed. Call emergency services if you have problems breathing or staying awake. Long term use of this medication may cause your brain and body to depend on it. This can happen even when used as directed by your care team. You and your care team will work together to determine how long you will need to take this medication. If your care team wants you to stop this medication, the dose will be slowly lowered over time to reduce the risk of side effects. Naloxone is an emergency medication used for an opioid overdose. An overdose can happen if you take too much of an opioid. It can also happen if an opioid is taken with some other medications or substances such as alcohol. Know the symptoms of an overdose, such as trouble breathing, unusually tired or sleepy, or not being able to respond or wake up. Make sure to tell caregivers and close contacts where your naloxone is stored. Make sure they know how to use it. After naloxone is given, the person giving it must call emergency services. Naloxone is a temporary treatment. Repeat doses may be needed. This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgment. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects. This medication will cause constipation. If you do not have a bowel movement for 3 days, call your care team. Your mouth may get dry. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking hard candy and drinking plenty of water may help. Contact your care team if the problem does not go away or is severe. Talk to your care team if you may be pregnant. Prolonged use of this medication during pregnancy can cause temporary withdrawal in a newborn. Talk to your care team before breastfeeding. Changes to your treatment plan may be needed. If you breastfeed while taking this medication, seek medical care right away if you notice the child has slow or noisy breathing, is unusually sleepy or not able to wake up, or is limp. Long-term use of this medication may cause infertility. Talk to your care team if you are concerned about your fertility.

What are the most serious risks of this medication?

This medicine must not be injected into a vein (intravenously) because there is a high risk of serious harm or death. This medicine is only for injection under the skin (subcutaneously).

Source: This information is sourced from Elsevier Inc.

Disclaimer

The reviews, ratings, comments, and opinions expressed on this platform are solely those of the individual medical professionals who posted them and do not reflect the views or positions of Sermo, Inc. Sermo does not endorse, verify, or validate the content of individual reviews. The information provided is user-generated and reflects personal clinical experiences, which may not be complete, accurate, or applicable to your specific health needs. It is not intended as medical advice.

Prescription medications affect individuals differently, and what works for one person may not work for another. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist, or other qualified healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed applies to your personal circumstances. Only a licensed healthcare provider can advise you on what is safe and effective for you.

Keep all medications out of the reach of children, never share your medicine with others, and use each medication only as prescribed. Your reliance on any information provided on this platform is at your own risk.

Terms of use

  1. Sermo Drug Ratings, and all information provided on this website, may not be used in combination with any artificial intelligence tool (including to train an algorithm, test, process, analyze, generate output and/or develop any form of artificial intelligence tool). 

  2. Visitors to the online patient-facing website at Sermo.com (“Sermo Drug Ratings”) are Authorized Users of the website, which contains data owned by a third-party provider, Elsevier, Inc.  Accordingly, by visiting Sermo Drug Ratings, Authorized User acknowledges that the website includes Elsevier owned data that Sermo licenses pursuant to a separate usage and Data agreement (the “Agreements”).  Authorized User further acknowledges that Sermo is a third-party beneficiary of the Agreements and Authorized User’s use of the website hereby binds them to the terms of the Agreements; provided, however, that Elsevier shall have no obligations or liability to an Authorized User whatsoever pursuant to the terms of the Agreements.

Welcome to Sermo's Drug Ratings

Previously only for members, Sermo Drug Ratings are now openly available to all healthcare providers, patients, and industry professionals to support better healthcare decisions.

Clinical expertise
Insights based on real prescribing experience from triple-verified practicing physicians only
Detailed insights
Ratings on key attributes including efficacy, safety, tolerability, accessibility, and adherence
Unbiased reviews
Independent, physician-only reviews, free from pharmaceutical industry influence