When it comes to recovery from opioid addiction, Sublocade has become a trusted medication for many individuals seeking long-term stability. It’s an extended-release form of buprenorphine, a medication that helps reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. But one of the most common questions people ask before or after receiving their first injection is:
“How Long Does Sublocade Stay In Your System?”

The answer depends on several factors, including your metabolism, dosage, and how long you’ve been taking the medication. Understanding how Sublocade works, how it’s processed by your body, and how long its effects last can help you make informed decisions about your treatment and recovery journey.

What Is Sublocade?

Sublocade is a prescription medication used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) in adults. It contains buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist that helps manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms without producing the same high as other opioids like heroin or oxycodone.

Unlike daily medications such as Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone), Sublocade is given as a monthly injection. Once injected under the skin (usually in the abdominal area), it slowly releases buprenorphine into the bloodstream over several weeks.

This steady release helps maintain consistent levels of medication in the body, reducing the ups and downs associated with daily dosing and providing stability for those focusing on recovery.

How Does Sublocade Work?

Sublocade works by binding to the same opioid receptors in the brain that drugs like heroin, fentanyl, and prescription painkillers do. However, instead of fully activating these receptors, buprenorphine only partially stimulates them. This partial activation helps:

• Reduce cravings for opioids
• Prevent withdrawal symptoms
• Block the euphoric effects of other opioids

Essentially, Sublocade “tricks” the brain into feeling satisfied without producing a high helping people stay focused on recovery rather than the cycle of use and withdrawal.

How Long Does Sublocade Stay in Your System?

The duration Sublocade stays in your system can vary, but on average, the medication remains active for several weeks and detectable for months.

Let’s break that down:

• The active effects of Sublocade typically last about 1 month (30 days), since the injection is designed to release buprenorphine gradually over that period.
• However, traces of buprenorphine from Sublocade can remain in the body for up to 5 to 8 months after the last injection.

This extended presence is due to Sublocade’s long half-life, which averages between 43 and 60 days. The “half-life” means the time it takes for the concentration of the drug in your bloodstream to reduce by half. Because the drug releases slowly and breaks down gradually, it takes a long time for your body to eliminate it completely.

Factors That Affect How Long Sublocade Stays in the Body

While the general time frame can be several months, the exact duration varies for each person. Here are some key factors that influence how long Sublocade stays in your system:

1. Dosage and Duration of Treatment

Higher doses (such as 300 mg) and long-term use tend to stay in your system longer than lower doses or short-term treatment.

2. Metabolism

Your body’s metabolic rate plays a big role. People with faster metabolisms may process and eliminate Sublocade more quickly, while slower metabolisms may retain it longer.

3. Body Fat Composition

Because Sublocade is injected into fatty tissue, individuals with more body fat may retain the medication longer than those with lower body fat percentages.

4. Liver Function

Sublocade is primarily metabolized in the liver. People with liver impairment or liver disease may process the medication more slowly, leading to a longer elimination time.

5. Frequency of Injections

Repeated monthly injections can cause the medication to build up in the body, making it last longer even after stopping treatment.

Detection of Sublocade in Drug Tests

If you’re concerned about drug testing, it’s helpful to know how long Sublocade (buprenorphine) can show up on different types of tests:

• Urine tests: Buprenorphine can be detected for up to 6–12 months after your last Sublocade injection, depending on the dose and duration of use.
• Blood tests: It may remain detectable for up to 2–5 months.
• Saliva tests: These are less common for buprenorphine but may detect traces for a few months after the last injection.
• Hair follicle tests: These can potentially detect Sublocade for up to a year or more, though this varies widely.

It’s important to note that Sublocade will only show up on tests specifically designed to detect buprenorphine standard opioid tests may not pick it up.

How Long Do the Effects of Sublocade Last?

The therapeutic effects of Sublocade are designed to last approximately 30 days, which is why it’s administered once a month.

Patients often report that they experience stable relief from cravings and withdrawal throughout this period. However, if you stop receiving injections, the effects may gradually wear off after several weeks as the medication levels decrease in your bloodstream.

Even though the drug remains in your system for months, its active effectiveness may diminish after a few weeks, depending on your metabolism and body chemistry.

Stopping Sublocade: What to Expect

Because Sublocade remains in the body for so long, it doesn’t require daily tapering like other medications. However, stopping Sublocade suddenly without medical supervision can still cause delayed withdrawal symptoms, such as:

• Anxiety or restlessness
• Muscle aches or fatigue
• Insomnia
• Mild nausea or irritability

These symptoms may appear weeks or even months after your last injection, depending on how quickly your body eliminates the drug.

That’s why it’s crucial to work closely with your healthcare provider when discontinuing Sublocade. They can monitor your symptoms, provide additional medications if needed, and help you transition safely to the next stage of treatment or recovery.

Advantages of Sublocade’s Long Duration

While Sublocade’s long-lasting effects may seem concerning, they actually provide several benefits for those in recovery:

• No daily dosing: No need to remember to take medication each day.
• Stable medication levels: Reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms consistently.
• Lower relapse risk: Patients can’t misuse or stop the medication impulsively.
• Long-term protection: Even if a dose is missed, the medication continues to provide partial coverage for weeks.

These benefits make Sublocade an excellent option for people committed to maintaining sobriety without the daily challenges of traditional medications.

Conclusion

So, how long does Sublocade stay in your system?

In most cases, Sublocade remains detectable for up to 5 to 8 months, depending on individual factors such as dosage, metabolism, and liver health. Its therapeutic effects generally last about one month, but small amounts of buprenorphine can linger in the body for much longer.

While that may sound lengthy, Sublocade’s extended duration is what makes it so effective in helping people achieve stable, lasting recovery from opioid addiction. Always work closely with a qualified healthcare provider to manage your treatment plan and make any changes safely.