Once-monthly extended-release buprenorphine — a proven alternative to daily Suboxone for patients ready to simplify their opioid use disorder treatment. Administered at our injection clinics in Chattanooga and Cleveland, TN, and Ringgold, GA.
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What Is Sublocade?
Sublocade is an FDA-approved, extended-release formulation of buprenorphine delivered as a once-monthly injection. It is prescribed specifically for the treatment of opioid use disorder in patients who have already begun treatment with a buprenorphine-containing medication and are on a stable dose. Rather than taking a daily film or tablet, patients receiving Sublocade get a single injection at the clinic once a month, and each injection delivers a steady, controlled dose of buprenorphine over the following 30 days.
For many patients in medication-assisted treatment, Sublocade removes the daily routine of taking medication at home and replaces it with a monthly injection at the clinic, so more of their attention can go to the other parts of recovery.
How Sublocade Differs from Daily Suboxone
If you are currently taking daily Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone sublingual film or tablet), you are already familiar with the benefits of buprenorphine-based treatment. Suboxone is a highly effective medication that reduces cravings and prevents withdrawal, but it does require a daily commitment: the film or tablet must be dissolved under the tongue each day, and patients plan around their dosing schedule. For patients who want the benefits of extended-release buprenorphine but prefer weekly injections rather than monthly, we also offer Brixadi as a weekly or monthly injection.
Sublocade eliminates that daily requirement. Key differences include:
Dosing frequency: Sublocade is administered once per month at the clinic, compared to Suboxone which is taken every day at home.
Medication delivery: Sublocade is a subcutaneous injection that forms a small, solid deposit under the skin. This depot slowly releases buprenorphine into the bloodstream over the course of 30 days, maintaining consistent medication levels.
No daily decisions: With Sublocade, there is no film to remember each morning, no risk of a missed dose, and no need to carry medication when traveling.
Steady blood levels: Because the medication releases continuously from the injection site, patients experience fewer peaks and valleys in buprenorphine levels throughout the month compared to once-daily oral dosing.
Both medications contain buprenorphine and both are effective treatments for opioid use disorder. The choice between them depends on the patient's treatment history, stability, and personal preferences. Your provider can help you decide which fits your treatment history, stability, and schedule.
Your options
Buprenorphine, Three Ways
All three of our opioid-use-disorder medications deliver buprenorphine — the same partial-agonist molecule. What changes is the route and the dosing rhythm. Sublocade is the once-monthly injection for patients ready to step off daily dosing; Suboxone is the daily film or tablet most patients start on, and Brixadi offers weekly or monthly injection intervals.
This medication
Monthly injection
Sublocade
300 mg ×2 to start (one month apart), then 100 mg or 300 mg monthly
For patients stable on Suboxone who want off daily dosing. A long-acting buprenorphine injection given in clinic once a month — no daily film to remember. We have you take Suboxone for at least a week first, and you stay on it as a bridge until your first injection.
Daily film or tablet
Suboxone
Sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone · taken once daily under the tongue
For most patients starting OUD treatment. A daily sublingual film or tablet that reduces cravings and prevents withdrawal without the euphoria of full agonists. The medication most patients begin on, and the bridge taken before a first Sublocade injection.
Weekly or monthly injection
Brixadi
Flexible injection intervals — weekly or monthly
For patients who want a different injection cadence. A long-acting buprenorphine injectable available in weekly and monthly formulations, giving more scheduling flexibility than a monthly-only product. Like Sublocade, it is ordered during your visit and administered in clinic.
We don’t stock injections on-site — your provider orders Sublocade during your visit, you continue on Suboxone as a bridge for at least a week, and your injection appointment is scheduled once the medication arrives. Weighing daily Suboxone against the monthly injection? Our Sublocade vs. Daily Suboxone comparison lays out the trial evidence, lifestyle tradeoffs, and insurance math.
The evidence
What the Research Shows on Sublocade
Sublocade earned its FDA approval on the strength of the PROBE trial — a 504-patient, placebo-controlled study across 36 U.S. sites, published in The Lancet in 2019. The three findings below come from that trial.
5 → 42%Weeks opioid-free
Sublocade patients were opioid-free 42% of weeks (urine plus self-report) versus 5% on placebo injection. Haight BR et al. Lancet. 2019;393(10173):778–790 — PROBE pivotal trial, 504 patients, 36 U.S. sites.
2 → 28%Treatment success
Nearly one in three Sublocade patients were abstinent at least 80% of weeks, versus 2% on placebo. Haight 2019, PROBE.
34 → 60%6-month retention
Six in ten Sublocade patients completed the full 6-month trial, versus about one in three on placebo. Haight 2019, PROBE completion data.
What these numbers mean
One of the clearest depot-buprenorphine results in addiction medicine
Patients on Sublocade were opioid-free for nearly half of the treatment period. Patients on the placebo injection were opioid-free about 5% of the time — a figure that reflects how difficult opioid use disorder is to manage without medication support. Treatment success, defined as abstinence in at least 80% of weeks, was reached by nearly one in three Sublocade patients versus 2% on placebo, and six in ten Sublocade patients completed the full trial versus about one in three on placebo.
The depot injection gives patients a practical reason to stay engaged: the medication is already working in the body for the next 30 days — there’s no daily dose to remember and no refill to run out of. A Cochrane review of 31 trials covering 5,430 participants confirms the broader buprenorphine-class effect: patients on buprenorphine-based medications are substantially more likely to remain in treatment than those on placebo, and retention improves with therapeutic dosing.
At Restoration Recovery, Sublocade is prescribed alongside counseling and ongoing check-ins — the injection keeps buprenorphine steady, and the surrounding care addresses the rest of recovery.
Full citations in References: Haight 2019 (Lancet, PROBE), Lofwall 2018 (JAMA Intern Med), Mattick 2014 (Cochrane), Sordo 2017 (BMJ).
Starting Sublocade — Your First Appointment
Your first visit typically lasts 2 to 3 hours and follows the same four-step clinical flow we use for all opioid use disorder intake, scoped toward your Sublocade transition. You leave the same day with a Suboxone bridge prescription, and your first injection is scheduled as a follow-up.
01
Intake
Paperwork and a clinical intake — a DSM-5 assessment to confirm the OUD diagnosis and severity, plus a COWS (Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale) score to measure your current withdrawal state.
02
Counseling
You meet with a counselor to discuss your substance use history, any prior treatment, and your goals — including whether a once-monthly injection is a good fit for your schedule.
03
Doctor evaluation
A medical provider reviews your intake, COWS score, and counselor notes, explains how Sublocade works, and walks you through the Suboxone-bridge plan.
04
Suboxone bridge + Sublocade order
You leave the same day with a Suboxone prescription as your bridge. Your provider orders Sublocade during this visit. You take Suboxone for at least a week first, and your first injection usually comes about a month after this visit.
About 2–3 hours.Same-day Suboxone bridge; first injection usually about a month in.Bring a photo ID, your insurance card, and a list of any medications.
What Sublocade visits look like+
Routine visits include counseling and are weekly at first, then every two weeks, then monthly once you are stable. Each monthly injection visit is also a check-in with the care team. A typical injection visit includes a brief clinical assessment and vitals check, administration of the Sublocade injection, a short observation period afterward, and a discussion of any side effects, changes in health, or adjustments to the treatment plan.
Counseling continues alongside the medication. Restoration Recovery provides individual counseling as part of a comprehensive treatment approach — medication alone is not a complete treatment for opioid use disorder, and patients are encouraged to engage fully in all recommended components of their care plan.
Common side effects of Sublocade may include mild pain, redness, or itching at the injection site; these reactions are generally temporary and resolve within a few days. Your provider reviews all potential side effects with you before your first injection. Anything you share during intake, counseling, or your follow-up visits is protected by HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 — the federal rule that specifically shields addiction-treatment records from disclosure without your written consent, except in limited cases the law allows, such as a medical emergency or a court order.
Who Is a Candidate for Sublocade?
Sublocade is typically recommended for patients who have already been stabilized on a transmucosal buprenorphine product, such as Suboxone, and are doing well in treatment. Ideal candidates generally:
Have been on daily Suboxone for at least a week
Are consistent with clinic appointments and counseling participation
Are looking to reduce the burden of daily medication management
Are motivated to continue their recovery with fewer day-to-day treatment tasks
Sublocade is never the first medication for a patient new to treatment. Patients who want Sublocade start on daily Suboxone, which lets their provider find the right dose and monitor early response. Once a patient is stable and has shown consistent progress, transitioning to Sublocade becomes an option worth discussing with the care team.
Still weighing MAT options? Our Is Suboxone Right For Me? page walks through how daily Suboxone, monthly injections, and other pathways compare. For a direct head-to-head on this specific choice, see Sublocade vs. Daily Suboxone; for five MAT medications side by side, see our MAT Medications Compared tracker.
Already on Suboxone?
Ask about the switch at your next visit. If you’re stable on daily Suboxone and want off the daily routine, your provider can order Sublocade and schedule your first injection. New to treatment? Call us, and you’ll leave your first visit with a Suboxone prescription.
Why Patients Choose Restoration Recovery for Sublocade
Sublocade works best at a clinic built for long-term, in-person care. Because the injection is given in clinic each month, every dose is also a check-in with a provider who knows you. Here is what patients find at Restoration Recovery:
Three injection clinics across Tennessee and North Georgia. Chattanooga, Cleveland, and Ringgold. Sublocade is administered in-clinic, so your monthly injection is also a built-in check-in with a provider who knows you.
Experienced MAT providers and a CARF-accredited program. CARF (the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) is an independent, nonprofit accreditor that reviews treatment programs on-site against its published standards.
Serving Chattanooga since 2017. Some of our patients have been with us for more than five years. Continuity matters in recovery, especially on a long-term injection.
4.6 stars across 51 verified Google reviews. Read a few before you call.
Counseling and behavioral health. Medication without counseling is only part of a treatment plan. Counseling is available at every clinic, and our Chattanooga clinic also treats co-occurring anxiety, depression, or trauma alongside recovery. The first of those visits is in person, and later ones can be by telehealth.
Most major insurance plans accepted. TennCare, Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial carriers. What you pay out of pocket depends on your insurance.
Confidential by federal law. Your treatment is protected under HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2, which specifically shields addiction-treatment records from most forms of disclosure. What you share with us stays with us.
“I owe my entire recovery to this place. I had tried so many times in the past, but not until I found these guys did I succeed.”
CARF-accredited outpatient addiction care
TennCare, BlueCare, BCBS, UHC, Medicare & most commercial insurance accepted. We verify your benefits before your first visit — no surprises. Licensed in TN & GA · HIPAA · 42 CFR Part 2.
Insurance and Access
Restoration Recovery accepts most major insurance plans for Sublocade treatment, including TennCare, Medicaid, Medicare, and many commercial insurance plans. Our patient services team can verify your coverage and explain any out-of-pocket costs before treatment begins. To check your plan before you book, use our 2-minute insurance verification or visit our insurance page.
For TennCare members specifically, Restoration Recovery is enrolled in TennCare’s BESMART program, which speeds preferred buprenorphine pharmacy coverage (Suboxone film and tablet, generic buprenorphine/naloxone). Sublocade is administered in the clinic rather than filled at a pharmacy, so it is covered under the TennCare medical benefit with its own prior-authorization process — separate from BESMART. Our team coordinates both pathways when clinically appropriate. Prior authorization is usually required, and we don’t stock Sublocade on-site, so the injection is scheduled as a follow-up once the medication is ordered and approved.
Our Injection Clinics
Sublocade is administered at three Restoration Recovery clinic locations across Tennessee and North Georgia. Each is staffed by providers experienced in medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, with same-day appointments often available.
Sublocade is an injection, so it is not given at our Soddy-Daisy clinic — Soddy-Daisy patients receive their monthly injection at the Chattanooga or Cleveland clinic, a short drive away. Phones are answered Monday through Friday, 9am to 4:30pm Eastern. After hours? The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and the free, confidential SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) are available 24/7.
References
The statistics and clinical findings on this page come from peer-reviewed medical research and authoritative public-health sources. Patients, family members, and providers are welcome to verify any claim against the original source.
Haight BR, Learned SM, Laffont CM, et al. Efficacy and safety of a monthly buprenorphine depot injection for opioid use disorder: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2019;393(10173):778–790. [PubMed]
Lofwall MR, Walsh SL, Nunes EV, et al. Weekly and Monthly Subcutaneous Buprenorphine Depot Formulations vs Daily Sublingual Buprenorphine With Naloxone for Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2018;178(6):764–773. [PubMed]
Greenwald MK et al. Examining the benefit of a higher maintenance dose of extended-release buprenorphine in opioid-injecting participants treated for opioid use disorder. Harm Reduction Journal. 2023;20:173. [PubMed]
Sordo L, Barrio G, Bravo MJ, et al. Mortality risk during and after opioid substitution treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. BMJ. 2017;357:j1550. [PubMed]
Mattick RP, Breen C, Kimber J, Davoli M. Buprenorphine maintenance versus placebo or methadone maintenance for opioid dependence. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2014;(2):CD002207. [Cochrane]
American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). National Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder: 2020 Focused Update. [ASAM]
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Medications for Opioid Use Disorder. Accessed 2026. [NIDA]
SUBLOCADE (buprenorphine extended-release) for injection. Prescribing Information. Indivior Inc. Accessed via DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine. [DailyMed]
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Sublocade different from daily Suboxone?+
Sublocade delivers the same active medication (buprenorphine) but through a once-monthly subcutaneous injection instead of a daily sublingual film or tablet. The steady blood level over a full month means you don’t experience the small peaks and troughs that can come with daily dosing, and you don’t have to remember the medication each morning. Both are effective for opioid use disorder; the choice usually comes down to lifestyle preference, insurance coverage, and clinical history. Before your first Sublocade injection, we have you take daily Suboxone for at least a week.
What’s the first month of Sublocade like — will I still need daily Suboxone?+
We have you take daily Suboxone (film or tablet) for at least a week before your first Sublocade injection, and the injection usually comes about a month after you start treatment. Most patients feel steady within a few days of the injection as the blood level reaches maintenance range. You stop taking daily Suboxone once you receive the injection; the long-acting medication takes over. Some patients notice mild adjustment in the first few weeks — usually tiredness or emotional variability — which typically resolves by the second month. Your provider checks in at your routine visits and makes adjustments if needed.
Will I feel withdrawal between injections?+
No. Sublocade’s extended-release formulation maintains therapeutic buprenorphine blood levels for at least 28 days — that’s why it’s dosed once a month. The PROBE trial (Haight 2019, Lancet) showed 6-month retention rates of 60% on monthly Sublocade versus 34% on placebo, partly because patients don’t experience the daily-dose cliff. If you feel early signs of withdrawal before your next injection appointment, call us — we can adjust timing or bridge with short-acting buprenorphine if clinically needed.
Does my insurance cover Sublocade, or will I have a copay?+
Most insurance plans cover Sublocade, including TennCare (BlueCare, Wellpoint, UHC Community Plan), traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and most commercial plans. Prior authorization is usually required. TennCare members typically have $0 out-of-pocket for both the office visit and the medication. Commercial copays vary: some plans classify Sublocade under the medical benefit (office-administered) and others under pharmacy benefit. Our intake team verifies your specific coverage before your first injection, and we don’t stock Sublocade on-site — the injection is scheduled as a follow-up appointment once the medication is ordered and approved.
What happens if I miss an injection appointment?+
Call us as soon as possible. A short delay (a few days to a week past your 28-day mark) is typically not a clinical emergency — buprenorphine’s long half-life means some therapeutic effect persists. Beyond two weeks past the due date, you may start experiencing withdrawal, and we may recommend a brief transition back to daily Suboxone until your next injection. Missing multiple doses is a significant clinical concern and worth discussing with your provider. The goal is continuity — we’d rather see you back on schedule promptly than have you struggle between doses.
Can I switch from Sublocade back to daily Suboxone if I want to?+
Yes. Sublocade-to-Suboxone transition is clinically routine. Because Sublocade’s buprenorphine is released slowly for weeks after the last injection, you simply stop getting injections and, as blood levels decline naturally (typically over 4 to 12 weeks), your provider transitions you to daily Suboxone at an appropriate dose. Some patients switch for lifestyle reasons (travel, insurance change, or preference), others because they’re approaching the end of their structured treatment plan. Whatever the reason, the transition doesn’t require a medical taper — just coordinated care with your provider.
A place for hope & healing
Ask about Sublocade at your next visit
Already on Suboxone? Ask your provider if Sublocade is right for you. New patients welcome — same-day appointments available.
