Key takeaways
Sublocade (buprenorphine) and Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) are both used to treat opioid dependence, but they have some key differences. Sublocade is an injection given once a month by a healthcare provider, while Suboxone is a film or tablet that you dissolve in your mouth daily. Sublocade is only for people who have already been stabilized on another form of buprenorphine, whereas Suboxone can be used as initial treatment for those dependent on short-acting opioids. Sublocade is brand name only, but Suboxone is available in a lower-cost generic form. Sublocade works by slowly releasing medication over a month, while Suboxone combines buprenorphine with naloxone to prevent misuse. Both medications can cause side effects like headache and constipation, but Sublocade also has risks related to its injection site.
