Sublocade is available only in a certified healthcare setting under a special program. You will not be able to give yourself this medicine.
This medication guide provides information about the Sublocade brand of buprenorphine injection. Buprenex is another brand of buprenorphine injection that is used to treat moderate to severe pain.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use Sublocade if you are allergic to buprenorphine. You will not receive Sublocade unless you have already been using oral buprenorphine for at least 7 days in a row.
To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
a breathing problem, sleep apnea;
a head injury, brain tumor, or seizures;
alcoholism, drug addiction, mental illness;
an enlarged prostate or urination problems;
liver disease;
a heart rhythm disorder (especially if you take medication to treat it);
long QT syndrome (in you or a family member);
an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood);
abnormal curvature of the spine that affects breathing;
Addison's disease (adrenal gland disorder); or
problems with your gallbladder or thyroid.
Some medicines can interact with buprenorphine and cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome. Be sure your doctor knows if you also take stimulant medicine, herbal products, or medicine for depression, mental illness, Parkinson's disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or prevention of nausea and vomiting. Ask your doctor before making any changes in how or when you take your medications.
If you use Sublocade while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Sublocade can pass into breast milk and may cause drowsiness, and breathing problems in a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.
Sublocade is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.
