Sublocade Injection in Charleston, SC
Monthly extended-release buprenorphine injection — one office visit, 30 days of steady medication.
What Is Sublocade?
Sublocade is an FDA-approved extended-release buprenorphine injection manufactured by Indivior. It is administered as a monthly subcutaneous injection in the abdomen and provides steady buprenorphine levels for 30 days. Unlike daily sublingual Suboxone films or tablets, Sublocade requires only one office visit per month — no daily dosing, no films to lose or misplace, no diversion concerns.
Sublocade was approved by the FDA in 2017 and has become an increasingly important option in medication-assisted treatment. At Hope Addiction Medicine in West Ashley, our providers are experienced with Sublocade administration and can help you determine whether the monthly injection is right for your treatment plan.
Advantages Over Daily Suboxone
Eliminates daily compliance — no need to remember to take medication every morning. Provides steady medication levels 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — no peaks and troughs. Removes diversion concerns — especially valuable for court-ordered patients. Simplifies treatment to one office visit per month. Patients report feeling more stable and less focused on their medication throughout the day.
Who Is a Candidate?
Sublocade is appropriate for patients currently stable on at least 8mg daily transmucosal buprenorphine for seven or more days, patients who struggle with daily dosing compliance, court-ordered patients where diversion is a concern, and patients who prefer the simplicity of monthly visits. Your first two injections are 300mg loading doses, followed by 100mg or 300mg maintenance doses based on your clinical response.
Insurance and Cost
Medicaid covers Sublocade in South Carolina. Most commercial insurance plans cover it as well. Indivior offers a patient assistance program (InsupportRx) for uninsured or underinsured patients. Our office handles prior authorizations and works with your insurance to ensure coverage before administration. The injection is administered in our West Ashley office by a trained provider and takes approximately 15 minutes. Patients from across the greater Charleston area choose our practice for convenient, expert Sublocade administration.
Common Symptoms
Treatment Options
Frequently Asked Questions
Most patients describe mild discomfort similar to a standard injection. The injection site may develop a small lump that gradually absorbs over several weeks. Avoid rubbing or massaging the injection site.
Sublocade provides buprenorphine for approximately 30 days, with some residual effect beyond that. If you miss your scheduled injection, call our office to reschedule as soon as possible. Your provider will advise on interim management.
Yes. If Sublocade is not the right fit, you can transition back to daily sublingual buprenorphine. Your provider will manage this transition.
Yes. South Carolina Medicaid covers Sublocade for opioid use disorder treatment. Our office handles prior authorization paperwork.