OUD or Opioid Use Disorder is a very complicated condition that needs a highly-personalized approach in terms of treatment. For the majority of patients, long-acting injectable medications such as Brixadi and Sublocade provide a very convenient alternative to everyday oral medications such as Suboxone. 

Both of them are highly effective, buprenorphine-backed treatments that properly stabilize brain chemistry, drastically minimizing cravings, and prevent symptoms of withdrawal. However, when comparing Brixadi and Sublocade, there are big differences in terms of dosing, sites of injection, and timelines of treatment. Understanding the mentioned distinctions can aid you as well as your healthcare provider select the correct path moving forward. 

Understanding What Sublocade Is

Sublocade refers to an FDA-approved, long-acting, injectable type of buprenorphine. Once it gets administered subcutaneously (just under the skin), it creates a solid depot that gradually lets out or releases the medication over a period of 30 days. 

• Active Ingredient: Buprenorphine (a partial opioid agonist).

• System of Delivery: ATRIGEL® technology.

• Dosing: Administered once every month. Patients generally begin at a 300 mg dosage for the first 2 months, followed by a maintenance dose of 100 mg.

• Requirements: Prior to getting an injection of Sublocade, patients must get stabilized on a daily oral or transmucosal buprenorphine product for a maximum time of seven days.

Understanding What Brixadi Is

Brixadi is a newer, FDA-approved, extended-release injection of buprenorphine designed specifically to provide maximized flexibility in the case of OUD patients. 

• Active Ingredient: Buprenorphine. 

• System of Delivery: FluidCrystal® technology. 

• Dosing: Available in both the weekly as well as monthly formulations, with numerous strength options for each of the medicines. 

• Requirements: As opposed to Sublocade, the weekly injection of Brixadi can get administered to patients who have not yet been stabilized on oral buprenorphine. It can, in some cases, get started after only a single oral test dosage to ensure the patient is able to tolerate the medication. 

The Key Differences between Brixadi and Sublocade

While both of the medications achieve the exact same ultimate goal of providing support to long-term recovery, they are different from one another in numerous crucial ways. 

1. Dosage Frequency & Flexibility

• Sublocade: Exclusively a per-month infection. It is highly ideal for patients who have already obtained stability in their recovery journey and require the ease of fewer clinical visits. 

• Brixadi: Provides both weekly as well as monthly options with a much broader range of dosage strengths. The per-week option is heavily beneficial for patients in the early recovery stages who need closer monitoring and quick, customized stabilization. 

2. Injection Sites and Comfort of Patients

• Sublocade: Can only get injected subcutaneously into the individual’s abdomen. Since it creates a solid depot, it can in some cases be felt as a small-sized lump under the skin until it gets fully dissolved. 

• Brixadi: Provides significantly elevated flexibility, it can get injected into the abdomen, thigh, buttocks, or the upper arms. This permits makers to rotate the sights of injection, which can better patient comfort as well as discretion while minimizing the localized site irritation. 

3. Beginning Treatment

• Sublocade: Needs a serious 7-day period of stabilization on oral medications (such as Suboxone or Zubsolv) before the first injection. 

• Brixadi: Can get initiated much earlier in the process of recovery. Patients who are experiencing moderate to intense opioid withdrawal can transition directly into weekly injections of Brixadi almost instantly.

Common Side Effects of Brixadi and Sublocade

Both the OUD medications share a very similar profile of side effects and safety. The most common mild side effects are as follows:

• Reactions at the injection site (pain, redness, swelling, or itching)
• Headaches and fatigue
• Nausea and constipation
• Insomnia

Which Buprenorphine Injection is the Correct Choice For You?

The best-possible medication for you relies on your present recovery stage, your specific clinical requirements, as well as your lifestyle preferences: 

• Opt for Sublocade If: You are already stable on the regimen of oral buprenorphine, prefer the once-a-month clinic visit’s predictability, and need a reliable “set it and forget it” approach. 
• Opt for Brixadi If: You are newly getting into recovery and require weekly support, need custom-tailored adjustments to dosage, or prefer alternative sites of injections (like the thigh or arm) over the abdomen. 

Begin Your Recovery Journey at AllianceMD

Overcoming addiction to opioids is possible when you possess the correct medical support and a custom-made, individualized plan of treatment. At AllianceMD, our compassionate, board-authenticated providers specialize in well-rounded MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment), including both Brixadi as well as Sublocade.

If you are searching for top-notch Opioid Use Disorder care in Northwest Indiana, we are readily available for you. We proudly cater to every patient at our 3 convenient clinic locations, namely in Merrillville, Michigan City, and Munster.

Take the very first step towards long-lasting freedom. Get in touch with us today to schedule your consultation and discover which option of treatment is the correct one for you!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Can I switch from Suboxone/Sublocade directly to Brixadi?

A. Yes. If you are currently using a medication of oral buprenorphine (such as Suboxone) or are already getting Sublocade injections, an officially-licensed healthcare provider can securely transition you from Suboxone or Sublocade to Brixadi. Since Brixadi provides numerous dosage strengths, your provider will precisely match your ongoing dosage to ensure a smooth transition without triggering any withdrawal symptoms. 

Q. Do Sublocade and Brixadi injections hurt?

A. Patients might experience a mild, temporary discomfort, like pain, redness, or itching at the site of the injection. Since Sublocade gets injected sternly into the abdomen, a small-sized, hard bump (the depot of medication) might be felt for numerous weeks. Brixadi provides more options for comfort since it can get injected directly into the upper arm, thighs, buttocks, or abdomen, thereby permitting you to rotate sites in addition to minimizing skin irritation. 

Q. How fast do Sublocade and Brixadi begin working? 

A. Both the medications start working rapidly, but they function on different timelines. The weekly formulation of Brixadi week provides quick stabilization, making it highly ideal for those just getting into recovery. Sublocade, however, builds up very steadily over a period of a few days to maintain a baseline level of medication present in the body; due to this slow, initial buildup, patients must first get stabilized on oral medications for a week prior to getting their first-ever Sublocade injection.