In 2017, the FDA approved a new form of treatment for opioid and opiate dependence and addiction. This is a medication named Sublocade. Sublocade is an injectable form of buprenorphine that lasts for an entire month. Indivior, the company that makes Suboxone Films, is the manufacturer of Sublocade.
Why would I choose Sublocade over Suboxone Films?
Taking Suboxone Films and other sublingual medications for addiction treatment can be difficult. You have to put the medicine under your tongue and keep your mouth shut. This can take up to 10 minutes. Sometimes it takes longer than that. Then, the aftertaste can be unpleasant. This daily routine gets old after a while. There is also the issue of medication being lost or stolen or misplaced. It is important to not miss doses when it comes to addiction treatment. A monthly injection solves these problems. You simply go to your monthly doctor appointment and get your shot. There is nothing else to worry about. You can forget about the pharmacy visits, locking up your medicine at home, waiting for the medicine to dissolve under your tongue each day.
Why would I not want to get Sublocade monthly injections?
Sublocade is relatively expensive. If you have insurance that easily covers it, then you don’t have to worry as much about the cost. Having the flexibility to find the least expensive pharmacy and pick up partial fills of a prescription as you can afford them is an advantage of daily Suboxone. Also, in the beginning, you will want to make sure that you do not have an adverse reaction to buprenorphine. Getting a month’s worth of medicine injected into your body may not be a good idea until you know that you can tolerate buprenorphine. This means starting out with the daily dosing first. Otherwise, some patients will simply choose to continue with the brand that has been around longer.
Should my family or spouse help to make the decision?
You are an adult and it is your body. Unless someone else has the legal right to make your healthcare decisions on your behalf, it is ultimately your decision. Still, you may choose to involve family and loved ones in the decision. It is true that monthly injectable medications provide some peace of mind for those people who love you and want to make sure that you are taking your medicine. It can give them confidence that you are on track with your treatment plan.
What is the next step to starting Sublocade?
The next step is to make an appointment with your doctor. If you are not already seeing a doctor with certification and experience to treat opioid and opiate addiction with medication, you are welcome to call Dr. Leeds’ office at 954-776-6226 or send a message through this website. Schedule an appointment and we can sit down and talk about what you can do to get started as soon as possible.
