Sublocade for Opiate Dependence - Maintenance User Reviews

• Dan...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 19, 2020

"I've been on the Suboxone films, 3 strips a day for the past 13 years. I just got my first Sublocade shot this morning and feel fine. I'm a little scared that it won't match up to the 3 strips a day, but I'm definitely going to give it my best shot! I still have some films in case I start to think I'm having symptoms, but I haven't taken a single strip all day, and I'm not having any symptoms. I really hope this works out because when you are taking strips or tabs, the doctors have complete control over your life! I feel like after 13 years of taking 24 mg of Suboxone a day, I am the one in control of my life. No more counting wrappers, no more leaving the clinic feeling like I am less than them, and no more leaving feeling like I've done something wrong!!! I'll keep you posted on how it's going later, in a couple of weeks."

• Cee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 28, 2019

"So I was addicted to opiates for 4 years, taking them orally and crushing and snorting them. That's when I knew I needed help. I was losing everything and spending way too much money, I was basically working to get high. So I originally started with 8mg Suboxone 2 times a day, then 21mg once a day for six months. I was then offered the Sublocade shot. Initially, I was skeptical but ended up doing it and am glad I did. It did burn upon injection, and I was a little nauseous for a couple of days, but then fine. So I never went back for the second dose. Let me tell you why this worked for me, but you have to really want to not be dependent on another medication. My theory was it's slowly released into your bloodstream, so it will slowly leave as well. Yes, I did go through a little withdrawal with the hot/cold and sweating for like 2 days, but it was definitely nothing like withdrawal from the actual opiate itself. I am currently still clean and sober, loving my family, and life itself."

• Pea...
• June 21, 2019

"I was an addict for about 15 years before I decided I had enough of the monkey on my back and decided to get clean. Fast forward about 10 years and I'm still on Suboxone, two 8mg films a day... But I'm stuck, you know what I mean? An endless cycle of mismanaged Suboxone, taking too many in the beginning of the month and always being about a week short till the next cycle of hell for the next month. One day, the doctor suggests I should try SUBLOCADE?? What the hell is that? YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS?? THE BEGINNING OF A NEW BEGINNING!!!! 10 months now with the shot and I can live life FREE!!! Barely ever even think about it anymore. No more every thought consumed with Suboxone and those DAMN STRIPS!! ONCE A MONTH I GO FOR MY SUBLOCADE AND IT STINGS FOR ABOUT 45 SECONDS AND THAT'S IT!! I feel like I have my life back. Try it!! YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE AND A PRETTY NORMAL LIFE TO GAIN"

• red...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 18, 2025

"This is an update. I did my first review 24 hours after receiving a 300 mg injection. I gave it the highest rating possible at the time. I’m happy to say I stand by that as of now, and it has been two weeks since receiving. Naturally, I have that hideous lump about the size of a grape under my skin. Nobody tells you how big, they just say a small lump, which is very subjective. I’ve had no redness, no itching, no pain unless I bump into it, then, it’s tender. I’ve had no withdrawal, no cravings, no side effects related to opiate use, or in comparison to Suboxone. The shot is much better for me because there’s not that roller coaster of up and down as your dose wears off. My plan is to receive this one and only shot and then be done with it all. I will review again at approximately six weeks. Good luck to all! Oh, I’m sorry, I did feel a little bit high for the first two or three days while my body adjusted, then it was just normal, kind of like the first time I took Suboxone."

• Gru...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 26, 2020

"After 11 years of struggling with heroin addiction and intermittent failed attempts to stop with Suboxone, I successfully got clean with Sublocade. It bought me time and allowed me to change my behaviors and thinking. I had to discontinue it after 3 months of shots due to a mandated drug program. I continued to test positive for Bupe for 6 months. After 2 months of negative tests, I can tell you it was a fairly painless kick. Cravings returned about 3 or 4 months after my last shot but improved and are gone now. Bad insomnia, but I didn’t feel tired during the day. I also had some mild to moderate restless legs. Gabapentin helped me get through that. The shot self-tapers very slowly, so it seems to be a great way to transition off Suboxone as well. I am now on Naltrexone and opiate-free. Sublocade saved my life and I couldn’t have gotten clean without it."

• Lau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 18, 2020

"I was on Suboxone for 4 or 5 years without even thinking of going back to heroin. However, occasionally I would take an extra or even two extra! I knew that it didn’t even do anything or get me high, but I did it anyway. When I heard of Sublocade, I thought to myself that this was my answer to finally not be dependent on the pills! The first couple of days I went through “withdrawal,” but I believe it was in my head. Then, a few months in (maybe 5), my friend asked me, “wouldn’t you be able to just stop getting it and it would slowly take you down?” and I was like, “uhhhh idk?” Lol, but I couldn’t stop wondering. One month I decided to stop getting it, and I could always go back if need be. That was in October or November of last year, and knock on wood, I’m still good... absolutely no withdrawal. I’ll update if it happens though."

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2020

"Getting this Sublocade shot has changed my life. I was addicted to heroin for over 15 years. I would have very limited success with Suboxone. I would take it when I had to, but generally I would get them and sell them. I also would wake up every day consumed with getting money/getting high. So even with good intentions of taking Suboxone, there would be days that my addict thinking would take over before I had the chance to take the Suboxone, and I would be high again. Sublocade removed the guesswork for me. I wake up every day feeling great and with no desire to get high. I am waking up feeling free for the first time in over 15 years. The shot definitely burns, but for me it is definitely worth the burn. This has been a total game changer for me!"

• Bec...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 20, 2020

"Was on Suboxone films three each day for five years. It was amazing for me. I was addicted to codeine for seven-plus years. I knew it was killing my organs. It was a hassle to get my films every week, though, at $35. With the injection, it was monthly and $20! I had two injections, and it wasn’t that bad, just a pinch. I never went back for a third. Just felt I didn’t need it! Doc said I could pop in if I did need again. I have no withdrawals at all! I’m now clean, finally!"

• Doo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 11, 2019

"I’m about like most of you, wanted to feel good. Pain pills, methadone (mistake) methadone is too good and harder to get off of. Then Suboxone, which was fine, but I would be feeling tired or whatever, so I would take another piece. So I was pretty much controlling how much I took. Anyways, Sublocade was offered to me. I was scared, but I decided to do it. I took a 300 mg the first two months and no withdrawals at all. Didn’t feel funny or anything. Now I’ve taken maybe four 100 mg, and I’m scared to stop because of years of depending on something. But I’m pretty sure I’ve had my last shot."

• Ang...
• February 21, 2020

"Just wanted to share some info about this due to the discomfort from the shot. After the liquid is injected, it turns into a solid, and that's how it is long-acting and extended-release, but also can be painful, so don't rub it either, it will go away and is normal to have a bump. Also, congrats to everyone fighting this battle."

• Kje...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 18, 2018

"I received my injection 4 days ago, and so far, so good. I was on 12 mg of Suboxone, and the daily habit of taking the strip wasn’t allowing me to fully recover from addiction and change my habits/lifestyle. The strips were a crutch as I looked forward to taking them. Waking up and knowing I had something to take or splitting my doses into smaller increments throughout the day because I thought I’d feel better are all addict behaviors. With the shot, I am very excited to break the hand-to-mouth habit and get the notion of taking something every day multiple times to feel better. Now I can just live my life and start to change my habits. Will update towards the end of the month."

• iFe...
• November 15, 2018

"I was addicted to pain pills for about six years before I had enough and decided to try and get my life together. Went to rehab and shortly after started Suboxone maintenance. Yes, like most of us, I was happy and my life changed dramatically. But part of me felt like it was just a transfer of one drug to another. After two years of Suboxone treatments, my doctor brought up the topic of Sublocade. Fast forward and I get my first shot. Holy moly, it hurts. I'm a pretty skinny guy, so injecting that much medicine under the skin leaves a huge lump. THAT and that alone is my only issue with the medication. I decided after two shots that I would not continue with the medication and would switch back to the Suboxone. Came time for my next appointment with my doctor, but I still felt amazing. No withdrawal, no issues. So I pushed back my appointment. Long story short, it has been almost 3 months and I have not been back to my doctor. I still feel amazing, no withdrawal, no nothing."

• Hor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 14, 2019

"I will share my experience with Sublocade. Prior, I was on Suboxone, a high dose for 2 years. I've now had 4 Sublocade injections (four months). Here's my report. Sublocade works-but not in a dramatic fashion. Maybe 'subtle' is the correct word. I can tell that something is 'in the background' in my CNS, working, but there's no 'highs' as what one would get after dissolving a strip or two. For me, that was hard to get used to: those initial rewards after taking the first strips of the day. It's not there anymore. I requested a blood draw to make sure there's actually buprenorphine in my system. There is. It seems that I felt my best right after the 3rd injection. Oh, and when I first wake up in the morning, I feel perfectly fine."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 2, 2019

"I finally got approval from my insurance for Sublocade, and I can't tell you the difference it's made. Sure, it hurts a tad, but only having to deal with one shot a month is totally worth it. I initially got my two 300 mg doses, and I think I've had four 100 mg doses. I'm going to try to make this my last one. There isn't much (if any) info on stopping Sublocade after a few months. Only what I've read on this forum, and all of those seem to be positive. Can anyone add to this? My doc is going to keep my next dose at the office and will squeeze me in if I start to have withdrawals later down the road, and my regular GP prescribed some low-dose Ativan in case the w/d's are mild. I'm nervous but so excited that for the first time in 10 years, I won't need any of this med!"

• Mik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 9, 2019

"Had 2 300 mg shots. The last one was March 26, 2019. Haven't had any withdrawals at all over 6 months later. Was on 8 mg Suboxone for 8 years. This seems too good to be true? Does anyone know if withdrawal will eventually show its face?"

• Guy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 27, 2020

"Horrible. My first shot and my last shot developed a necrotic wound. I did nothing to disturb the injection site, this has been happening to people all over the country. Please do not take this medicine! It’s too new, and they have not worked out all the issues. I have a hole in my stomach now (and that’s AFTER surgery to remove rotting skin) only 30 days after injection, and doctors don’t know if it will ever heal. I’m trying to sue Sublocade. BE WARNED! PLEASE DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE TRYING NEW MEDS!"

• joh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2020

"Been trying to quit heroin and other opiates since I was 18 or so. Now I'm 32, and I've spent years on Suboxone with some success for periods, but eventually, I'd fall into selling them for pills or bags of dope or whatever else I wanted. Also, I don't want to be on this drug forever. Got my first injection about a month ago, it hurt, and after the initial 'high' wore off, I didn't feel great for about 2 weeks. Not bad, though, don't take that as I was dying or in withdrawal, just not as good as I was on strips. After that first 2 weeks, I started feeling normal, about to get my second injection soon, and I'm looking forward to the future and excited about both not having the option to screw this up by selling my script and the incredibly long life that seems to allow many people to stop without serious withdrawal symptoms. Maybe it's not for everyone, use your judgment, but I don't want to keep repeating the same cycle for me."

• Sub...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 20, 2019

"I have been on Sublocade for 10 injections now. Two of them have caused necrotic wounds where the injection is on my stomach. I have had to get wound debridement twice now. This is occurring at random on anyone. My Dr. office has had other patients develop this disgusting, rotten necrotic hole in our stomachs. There are accounts on Reddit and pictures to see how bad these reactions are. This medication does its job, but what is happening is major, majorly bad. I have had two surgical procedures due to this medication. I am done with this medication. I have developed necrotic wounds 25% of the time. That is 1 out of four injections. Please do your homework and be aware of what is going on. The scars are bad, the necrosis is revolting. Please submit complaints to the FDA if you have had this atrocity happen."

• Jus...
• September 1, 2020

"I attempted to get off Suboxone two or three times but never past 2 milligrams. I decided to try Sublocade as a way of getting off Suboxone, I would get one shot and then it would slowly leave my system. I went to the clinic for the shot of Sublocade, the injection was super painful as I have very little body fat, it hurt like anything. The injection site was sore for approximately 4 days. The first 2 days I felt 'sub high,' and on the 3rd, I had a super headache and did not feel well. Over the next three or four days, I was super tired and falling asleep in the afternoon. Approximately 7 days in, I began to feel better and I seemed to normalize. I noticed that I no longer feel sick in the morning, so I am no longer reminded of my problem. I began to get up normally and get rolling without issue. I am getting tired earlier in the evening, which is not a bad thing because I was going to bed at approximately 12 every night, now I'm going to bed at 11 and I suspect it will be 10 soon."

• Kev...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 4, 2019

"It’s been 6 shots now at 300 mg. I didn’t have to bump down to the 100 mg like they suggested. Doing fantastic still. Wake up every day still living life to my fullest. I wake up every morning feeling great, no withdrawals, no worries about if I am going to run out of my meds early. Everything’s going smooth. Thank you, Sublocade."

• Cau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 7, 2023

"20+ years of running my life into the ground, I did one shot and never went back! It becomes out of sight, out of mind because you are not taking something every day! 2 weeks in and it wasn't something I thought about! Big Tip: DO NOT COUNT THE DAYS AFTER TAKING THE SHOT! Losing count is big mentally! That's 90% of it! Oh yeah! ZERO WITHDRAWALS!"

• Bra...
• April 8, 2019

"Been on subs for almost 8 months, 16 mg a day. Got the shot a little over 2 weeks ago. The first day was excellent. I was really excited about the month to come and finally felt as though I would be able to come off of the maintenance sooner with less withdrawal. That was the plan. Since then, I have needed to take my original 16 mg daily and feel as though that is not even working. I've had severe anxiety bouts and deep depression since receiving the shot. I even went on vacation to the beach and was miserable, feeling like a black, scary cloud was engulfing my life, sensing impending doom and fear. Out of the last 6 years, I've been clean for 4 and a half. And only 8 months has been on subs. If it weren't for my devotion to my newborn son, 6 months old, my relationship with God, and my first-hand knowledge in recovery, I would have failed already. I encourage everyone to write their own truths here so that we can make better decisions based upon real-life experiences. (34-year-old male)"

• Anonymous
• June 18, 2019

"I was on Subs since 2011. I had to go back every 2 weeks for my refill and do a drug screen. Now since I switched over to the shot, all is well. I wake up every morning able to focus on what I have to do for that day. Not having to take something right when I get up is awesome too. I am on my 4th shot of 300 mg, which is my maintenance dose too. No cravings or withdrawals transferring over either. Best choice I made."

• Yan...
• October 5, 2018

"I’ve switched over from 12-14 mg a day sub films (about 3 years on) with peak usage of three 8 mg films per day. I was always feeling the ups and downs, and sometimes even feeling opiate sick in the mornings. On Sublocade, that all went away. I wish I could summarize all the benefits I’ve experienced since the switch! The best part is it’s fully covered by insurance. This stuff actually brings the sense of normality back into livelihood. No more fears of having enough meds or filling prescriptions, etc. Regarding the injection - it’s no fun, but also far from the worst thing I’ve ever felt. It feels like a typical shot, with the liquid having a warming effect upon entry. Ironically, and contrary to what I’ve read here from some, the only withdrawal I ever felt on Sublocade starts if I delay my injection past 30 days. Nonetheless, it comes light and pales in comparison to Suboxone ups and downs! I couldn’t recommend this product enough. Wish you all the best."

• DDa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2019

"Day two of Sublocade, and I feel sick to my stomach. Stomachache, nausea, cold sweats, and just overall not feeling well. I'm not sure if my body is just trying to adjust to this or what's going on, but even if tomorrow I feel better and the rest of this month I feel better, it will have not been worth it after today. I was doing just fine on my Suboxone, but my doctors kept pushing Sublocade, and now I have to suffer through this."