5 Tips for Staying Sober
You’ve done the work to become clean and sober, and you want to do what you can to stay that way. Here are five great tips that will help you safeguard your freedom from a substance use disorder.
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Sublocade
In our previous post, we addressed some of the common misconceptions surrounding medically assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder. Now we turn our attention to a specific, and relatively new, form of MAT: Sublocade. Deployed as a once-monthly injectable medication, Sublocade represents a significant advancement in the treatment of opioid dependence, offering a unique approach to patient care. In this post, we will explore what Sublocade is, how it works, and its potential benefits and risks, providing a comprehensive overview of this emerging treatment option.
While Sublocade was approved relatively recently, in 2017, it has already shown promise when it comes to treating opioid dependence. Unlike similar medications such as Suboxone, which is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone (a strong opioid antagonist and agonist), Sublocade contains only buprenorphine. This has allowed for Sublocade to be developed as an injectable medicine instead of an oral form, which comes with many advantages.
What are the Advantages?
No need for daily dosing.
- Since Sublocade is an injection it can be taken once a month, eliminating a major barrier when it comes to treatment adherence. This means that patients who take this medication won’t have to worry about missing tomorrow’s dose.
Reduces the risk of abuse.
- As previously stated, Sublocade is administered once a month by a physician. This means that excess amounts of it cannot be taken in order to achieve some sort of high, which would be possible on alternative medications in the same class.
Stigma and privacy are protected
- Some people feel a stigma when it comes to their Opioid dependence treatment, especially due to having to carry and take medication daily. Since Sublocade is only administered once a month, and in a private setting, this can greatly reduce the amount of stigma felt by a patient.
When it comes down to it, there are similar medications in terms of desired effect to Sublocade, however there are none that create such a practical adherence schedule. Access to treatment can change daily for some patients with opioid dependence, so giving people as much time as they need is a priority.It is important to remember that, just as with any illness, recovery from opioid use disorder is a journey with many components and steps. Medically assisted treatment is meant to bridge a gap; used in tandem with various forms of therapy and support. If you or a loved one are experiencing opioid use disorder, please contact our office to set up a consultation.
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