Sublocade Clinic
in Port Saint Lucie, Florida
Pinnacle Wellness Group understands opioid and opiate addiction and the struggles that can come along with it. We strive to provide outstanding care to help you live your life free from addiction. Medication-assisted treatment has shown in studies to reduce the risk of fatal overdoses by approximately 50%.
One of the medications we utilize is Sublocade (extended-release buprenorphine). With Sublocade, you receive an injection once monthly at our office instead of taking a daily dose of medication. The once-monthly medication alleviates the inconvenience of prescription refills or remembering to take daily medication. After successfully taking Suboxone for a minimum of 7 days, you can begin receiving Sublocade injections once monthly.
When you receive a Sublocade injection, it works by binding to the same receptors in the brain that other opioids use.
Common other opioids such as morphine, oxycodone, heroin, and fentanyl are very dangerous when taken on the street. Overdoses are becoming very common. Starting medication-assisted treatment will dramatically reduce these risks. Sublocade blocks the brain receptor’s ability to absorb the other substances while dramatically reducing cravings for other drug use.
Sublocade is two medications combined. The first is buprenorphine.
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist. A partial opioid agonist delivers a small opioid dose to a patient, unlike a full opioid agonist that fully stimulates the opioid receptors. This medication provides a gradual path for the client to be slowly weaned off other medication and minimize the withdrawal symptoms. Buprenorphine is a first step in the Medication-Assisted Treatment process.
The second medication in Sublocade is Naloxone.
Naloxone is what is called an opioid antagonist. It will shut down the ability of the receptor to accept outside opiates and opioids and blocks the agonist from binding to the receptor.
While this sounds like this would work on its own, Naloxone can initiate withdrawal symptoms in individuals if taken too early. Patients who use opiates or opioids chronically can develop dangerous symptoms such as respiratory failure and seizures. Always consult an experienced doctor before taking Suboxone.
What is the difference between Sublocade and Suboxone?
While they are similar in many ways, the main difference is how long Sublocade lasts. Sublocade is injected and forms a small ball under the skin. Then Sublocade is released into the body over about a month.
You may already know of the Vivitrol shot. Sublocade is entirely different.
Vivitrol consists of naltrexone, which is a blocker for opioids. Sublocade is a partial agonist released over time. Meaning- it blocks other opioids from the receptors in the brain while allowing for some of the low-level opioid agonists to significantly reduce or eliminate withdrawal symptoms. An experienced physician or practitioner must monitor patients receiving Sublocade injections. It can only be given by a licensed health care professional.
Sublocade injections are an option of treatment at Pinnacle Wellness Group.
Sublocade is injected into the abdomen once monthly. The medication is released slowly for that month. Our office will schedule monthly follow-up appointments to ensure you receive your monthly injection on time. These visits will be an opportunity to monitor a patient’s progress and evaluate the effectiveness of the Sublocade injection.
