An estimated three Tennesseans die from an opioid overdose every single day. No one ever tries opioids thinking that they’ll have an overdose, but it still happens. How do you make sure it doesn’t happen to you?
One option for beginning your recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD) is to get medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with Sublocade. But what happens if you slip up and return to use while on Sublocade? Can you still get high? Do you feel other side effects of opioid use? Can you overdose?
At ReVIDA® Recovery, we exclusively treat OUD, and all of our patients are participating in MAT. We have the expertise you deserve and provide you with the quality treatment you need. We’ve created a judgment-free zone, and we know just how effective MAT is for people recovering from OUD.
Today we’ll answer the question: What happens if you use while on Sublocade?
Table of Contents
What Is Sublocade?
Sublocade is an extended-release prescription medication that’s approved to treat OUD. Sublocade is what’s known as a partial opioid agonist. This means that it binds to opioid receptors the same way that morphine or other opioids would, but with less effect.
The active ingredient in Sublocade is Buprenorphine. The substance has a “ceiling effect,” so it doesn’t have greater and greater effects on the body the more you consume it. You can’t get “high” off of Sublocade like you can with other opioids. This is one of the reasons it is an effective tool for treating OUD.
Sublocade is administered once a month as an injection. It starts out as a liquid but forms a gel once it’s inside the body. That gel releases buprenorphine at a steady rate throughout the month.
Sublocade should only be administered by a doctor or another healthcare provider.
What Happens if You Use Opioids While on Sublocade?
Mixing opioids with Sublocade is dangerous. Because Sublocade binds itself to opioid receptors, it is difficult to feel the full effects of other opioids while on Sublocade. However, all opioids act as depressants to the central nervous system. Even if you do not feel high while mixing Sublocade with other opioids, like heroin or fentanyl, it still impacts the body. This means that an overdose is more likely to occur.
Respiratory Depression
Respiratory depression is a major risk associated with opioid use. While it is safe to take Sublocade on its own, combining it with other opioids can severely slow down your breathing. In severe cases, your breathing could stop.
Respiratory depression impairs the body’s ability to get oxygen to the brain and other vital organs. If this goes on untreated for long enough, it can lead to brain damage, heart problems, hypertension, and even coma.
Severe Sedation
Opioids are known for their sedative effect. If you mix Sublocade with other opioids, the two can have a severe sedentary effect. This means you can’t be woken by stimuli, like noises or physical touch.
This can be especially dangerous in situations where you need to be aware of your surroundings. If you fall asleep while driving or operating heavy machinery, you could easily hurt yourself or someone else.
Digestive Problems
When you combine recreational opioid use with Sublocade, you increase your risk of developing digestive distress due to opioids. Digestive issues associated with opioid use include hard stool, constipation, nausea, vomiting, bloating, and flatulence. You may also experience a rapid decrease in appetite. Fecal impaction, or hardened stool that has become stuck in the rectum, requires medical treatment.
Continued illicit opioid use leads to severe digestive issues, including ulcers, damage to the stomach lining, and other serious complications.
Using Other Substances While on Sublocade
It is not a good idea to use any substances while on Sublocade. In particular, any substance that works as a depressant could be dangerous. Depressants slow down the central nervous system. Since opioids work as depressants, combining Sublocade with another depressant, like alcohol or benzodiazepines, can increase depressive effects. This leads to slurred speech, dizziness, muscle weakness, lightheadedness, and a lack of concentration.
On the other hand, mixing stimulants with Sublocade is also harmful. Even though Sublocade has a ceiling effect, its active ingredient is still an opioid. Mixing stimulants with opioids is dangerous because they mask some of each other’s symptoms. Unfortunately, this can lead to the warning signs of an overdose going unnoticed until it’s too late.
Can You Overdose While on Sublocade?
An overdose occurs whenever you take more of a substance than your body can handle. That threshold varies from person to person. You will not overdose on Sublocade itself while taking it as recommended. However, you can still overdose on opioids if you continue participating in illicit opioid use while taking Sublocade.
An opioid overdose is a serious medical event. If you or someone you are with experiences an opioid overdose, you need to get medical attention immediately. Over-the-counter medications like Naloxone are lifesaving and reverse the effects of a heroin overdose. There is no similar treatment for stimulant overdose.
Remember, Tennessee has a good samaritan law. This means that anyone who calls for medical help in the case of an overdose will not be charged for any substance use they were participating in at the time.
Does Sublocade Interact With Other Medications?
If you are taking other medications, you should talk to your doctor about how they might interact with Sublocade.
When to Talk to Your Doctor
If you are using opioids or other substances while on Sublocade, you need to talk to your doctor immediately. Sublocade can be an excellent tool for recovering from OUD and can reduce the worst side effects of withdrawal. But it only works when taken correctly.
If you’ve recently returned to use, talk to your doctor and other members of your care team. Recovery is a journey, and making a mistake isn’t a reason to give up. Together, you and your doctor can develop alternate plans to support your recovery for the long term.
Other Things You Should Know About Sublocade
There are a few more things you should know about Sublocade. To get on Sublocade, you must first be stable on an orally administered buprenorphine for at least a week prior.
The benefit of taking Sublocade over oral buprenorphine is that Sublocade only has to be taken once a month. Then you don’t have to worry about it again until your next appointment, when it will be administered to you by a doctor. An oral buprenorphine has to be taken daily, so there is a greater chance of missing a dose.
Sublocade Treatment From ReVIDA® Recovery
If you’re living with an opioid use disorder, recovery can seem impossible. Getting through withdrawal symptoms is painful. Cravings are intense. But Sublocade treatment can help you manage cravings and even prevent the high that opioids are associated with.
Sublocade is an incredibly useful tool, but when you get treatment, it shouldn’t begin and end with medication. A good treatment program should also include evidence-based therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy will help you get to the root causes behind your opioid use. With a trusted therapist, you’ll have the opportunity to work through past trauma. Together, the two of you will identify harmful thought patterns and how they relate to your feelings and behaviors.
Recovery is never out of reach. With the right combination of Sublocade and other supports, you can reclaim your life from OUD.
If you or someone you love is living with an opioid use disorder, there is hope to heal and move forward. ReVIDA® Recovery has a compassionate team of Sublocade doctors, therapists, and care coordinators to help with all areas of life. We believe in the life-changing effects of Sublocade because we have seen it work time and time again for our clients. Our team helps by connecting you with housing, offering transportation to care, securing you a job, and much more to get your life back on track. If you’re ready for recovery, we’re ready to help. Call us today at 423-631-0432 to learn more about our program offerings.
ReVIDA® Recovery: Reclaim Your Life
