Suboxone, Sublocade and Brixadi: How Buprenorphine Works
A plain-language guide to buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder, including daily options like Suboxone and Zubsolv and monthly or weekly injections.
If you’re struggling with opioids, you may have heard of Suboxone, Sublocade or Brixadi. These medications all contain buprenorphine, one of the most widely used treatments for opioid use disorder. Here’s what it is, how the different forms compare, and what to expect.
What is buprenorphine?
Buprenorphine is an FDA-approved medication for opioid use disorder. It works on the same receptors in the brain as other opioids, but in a milder, more limited way. That helps:
- Ease withdrawal symptoms
- Reduce cravings
- Lower the risk of relapse and overdose
When withdrawal and cravings quiet down, people often find it easier to focus on counseling, work and family.
Is it just trading one drug for another?
No. This is one of the most common worries we hear. Taking a medication as prescribed, under a provider’s care, is medical treatment. It’s similar to how people take medication for diabetes or high blood pressure. Buprenorphine works best as part of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), which combines medication with counseling and support.
The different forms
At Resolve Wellness, MAT for opioid use disorder may include:
- Suboxone: buprenorphine and naloxone in a film that dissolves under the tongue, taken once a day.
- Zubsolv: buprenorphine and naloxone in a small tablet that dissolves under the tongue, taken once a day.
- Sublocade: extended-release buprenorphine given as a monthly injection, so there’s no daily dose to remember.
- Brixadi: extended-release buprenorphine given as a weekly or monthly injection.
The naloxone in Suboxone and Zubsolv is there to discourage misuse. The injections can be a good fit for people who find daily doses hard to keep up with, or who want more privacy and fewer decisions each day.
Which one is right for me?
That depends on your history, your goals, your health and your insurance. A provider will talk through the options with you, explain how to start safely, and check in regularly. Please don’t start, stop or change any medication without talking to a medical professional first.
Already on methadone?
Resolve doesn’t prescribe methadone, but we welcome patients who receive methadone through another clinic. You can still get counseling, therapy and other support with us.
Medication works best with support
Medication handles the physical side. Therapy helps with everything else: the reasons behind substance use, the habits around it, and the life you want to build. Together, they give recovery a stronger footing.
Talk with us
If you’d like to learn whether MAT is right for you, request a call back and we’ll reach out within 24 hours, or call or text 614-321-7734. We accept Medicaid.
If you or someone near you may be overdosing, call 911. If naloxone (Narcan) is available, use it and still call 911.
This article is for general education and isn’t a substitute for personal medical advice. If you are in crisis, call or text 988. In an emergency or possible overdose, call 911.