Buprenorphine Prefilled Syringe (BUPRENORPHINE EXTENDED-RELEASE - SUBCUTANEOUS INJECTION)

Instructions

This medicine will be given to you at the doctor's office.

After injection, this medication will change from a liquid to a solid form. The area may feel like a small bump under the skin. It should get smaller over time. Do not try to remove the medicine.

Do not rub or massage the area where the injection was given.

If you miss a dose, contact your doctor for instructions.

Drug interactions can change how medicines work or increase risk for side effects. Tell your health care providers about all medicines taken. Include prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal medicines. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist before starting or stopping any medicine.

Tell your doctor if symptoms do not get better or if they get worse.

To reduce constipation, eat high fiber foods, drink plenty of water and exercise.

Keep all appointments for medical exams and tests while on this medicine.

Brand Name(s): Sublocade

Generic Name: Buprenorphine Extended-Release

Cautions

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you should have naloxone on hand to treat opioid overdose. Teach your family or household members about the signs of an opioid overdose and how to treat it.

This medicine may cause you to experience some withdrawal symptoms from your pain medication. Tell your doctor right away if you have unusual sweating, chills, stomach pain, diarrhea, yawning or irritability.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine.

Rarely, this medicine may cause serious injury at the site of injection. Call your doctor right away if you notice any pain, swelling, blisters, sores, lumps under the skin, or scabbing at the injection site.

Do not use the medication any more than instructed.

Your ability to stay alert or to react quickly may be impaired by this medicine. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine will affect you.

If possible, avoid using with alcohol, marijuana, or other medicines that can cause dizziness or drowsiness. These include allergy/cold products, muscle relaxers, sleep aids, and pain relievers.

This medicine passes into breast milk. Ask your doctor before breastfeeding.

This medicine can hurt a new baby in the womb. If you become pregnant while on this medicine, tell your doctor immediately. Your doctor may switch you to a different medicine.

This medicine should be used with caution in patients with breathing difficulties.

Call your doctor right away if you notice slow or shallow breathing.

Do not share this medicine with anyone who has not been prescribed this medicine.

Some patients have serious side effects from this medicine. Ask your pharmacist to show you the information from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and discuss it with you.

Side Effects

The following is a list of some common side effects from this medicine. Please speak with your doctor about what you should do if you experience these or other side effects.

  • decreased appetite
  • constipation
  • dizziness or drowsiness
  • pain, redness, swelling near injection
  • lightheadedness
  • nausea and vomiting

Call your doctor or get medical help right away if you notice any of these more serious side effects:

  • decreased awareness or responsiveness
  • breathing interruption during sleep
  • shallow, irregular breathing
  • changes in memory, mood, or thinking
  • confusion
  • fainting
  • hallucinations (unusual thoughts, seeing or hearing things that are not real)
  • fast or irregular heart beats
  • pus at injection site
  • signs of liver damage (such as yellowing of eye or skin, dark urine, or unusual tiredness)
  • weight loss

A few people may have an allergic reaction to this medicine. Symptoms can include difficulty breathing, skin rash, itching, swelling, or severe dizziness. If you notice any of these symptoms, seek medical help quickly.

Please speak with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist if you have any questions about this medicine.