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Opioid Addiction Treatment With Sublocade in West Palm Beach

Opioids are powerful and addictive substances that are extremely difficult to quit without medical and behavioral intervention. Many people avoid trying to get sober due to the fear of going through opioid withdrawal and battling intense drug cravings. In severe cases, mental and emotional symptoms of withdrawal can last for several weeks or months–but medications like Sublocade can help.

Opioid treatment with Sublocade in West Palm Beach aims to help individuals recover by alleviating cravings and withdrawal symptoms so individuals can put all of their energy into the healing process. When used as one component of a complete substance abuse treatment plan, Sublocade is a powerful tool for overcoming opioid addiction.

What is Sublocade?

Sublocade (buprenorphine) is a prescription medication that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat moderate to severe opioid use disorder. It is the first once-monthly buprenorphine injection to be used in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder. The medication works to prevent lingering withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings while being used in tandem with therapy.[1]

Sublocade’s active ingredient, buprenorphine, is a popular opioid treatment medication that is found in other brand-name drugs like Suboxone and Subutex. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist that binds to opioid receptors in the brain and partially blocks them. In doing so, the drug alleviates opioid withdrawal symptoms and reduces cravings.[2]

Sublocade

Sublocade Side Effects

sublocade side effects

Like all prescription medications, Sublocade may cause side effects. Some of the more commonly reported side effects include:[3]

  • Pain, itching, or redness at the injection site
  • Constipation
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

Additional side effects that are less common include:

  • Dizziness when standing or sitting up
  • Fatigue
  • Weakness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Increased liver enzymes

Addiction treatment programs in West Palm Beach offering Sublocade monitor patients closely for adverse side effects.

Sublocade Treatment Protocol

Sublocade injections are given once a month with at least 26 days between doses. The medication comes in 2 different doses: 300 mg and 100 mg. Patients generally start with 300 mg so the medication can be fully effective in the body. After 2 months of taking 300 mg, many physicians will reduce the dose to 100 mg.

Sublocade is intended to be a subcutaneous injection. This means the shot is given just below the skin–typically in the abdomen. It is common for patients to feel or see a small bump on the skin at the injection site for a week or so after the injection. This bump is known as a “depot” that slowly releases the medication into the body throughout the month. As medication is released over time, the bump gets smaller. Patients are instructed not to remove, rub, or massage the depot.[4]

Most importantly, Sublocade is meant to be used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes counseling. Sublocade helps control the physical symptoms of addiction while counseling helps patients manage their emotions and behaviors that exacerbate their opioid addictions.

What to Expect During Treatment With Sublocade in West Palm Beach

Sublocade can help individuals struggling with opioid use disorder by alleviating withdrawal symptoms and cravings so people can focus entirely on their counseling sessions. Here is what patients can expect during a Sublocade treatment program in West Palm Beach.

Detox and Buprenorphine Induction

Detox is the first step of addiction treatment. This is when patients go to a medical facility while they go through drug and alcohol withdrawal. Although opioid withdrawal is typically not life-threatening, symptoms can be challenging to endure, so it is often treated using opioid replacement medications like methadone or buprenorphine.

Although Sublocade contains buprenorphine, patients cannot begin taking Sublocade during detox. Instead, individuals should take a daily transmucosal (under the tongue or inside of the cheek) form of buprenorphine for at least 7-days before receiving their first shot. This is what is known as the “buprenorphine induction” phase of treatment.

Monthly Sublocade Injections

After completing detox and taking buprenorphine daily for one week without adverse side effects, patients may receive their first Sublocade injection. Sublocade is administered in an office by a licensed treatment provider after the induction period is complete. Sublocade is not available in retail pharmacies and is highly regulated, so there is little to no risk for abuse or diversion.

In addition to receiving monthly injections, patients meet with their doctor on a regular basis to discuss side effects, cravings, and how well the medication is working. Individuals should speak with a medical provider immediately if they begin experiencing breathing problems, allergic reactions, confusion, or blurry vision.

Individualized Therapy and Counseling Sessions

Opioid addiction impacts more than just a person’s physical body and psychological cravings. It also affects a person’s behaviors, emotions, and relationships. As a result, treatment with Sublocade is most effective when the medication is used in combination with behavioral therapy and counseling.

Therapy sessions may be held on both an individual and small group basis. Counseling techniques are meant to be targeted to meet each patients’ unique needs and treatment goals. Types of therapy used during treatment may include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), and family systems therapy.

Start Treatment With Sublocade in West Palm Beach Today

Here at Mandala Healing Center, we go beyond the traditional detoxification approach as we treat the entire person—mind, body, and spirit. We do so using a combination of FDA-approved medications, behavioral therapy techniques, and holistic healing methods.

If you or a loved one are struggling with opioid addiction and are interested in learning more about Sublocade treatment, contact one of our dedicated admissions coordinators today.

References:

  1. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-once-monthly-buprenorphine-injection-medication-assisted-treatment-option-opioid
  2. https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/medications-counseling-related-conditions/buprenorphine
  3. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2020/209819s012lbl.pdf
  4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6889966/