One of the biggest questions patients ask when considering an extended-release buprenorphine injection is simple: how long does one shot actually last? The answer shapes how often you'll need to come into the clinic, how you plan travel, and how you think about your treatment routine overall. The good news is that both FDA-approved products used for opioid use disorder, Sublocade and Brixadi, are designed to last far longer than a typical injection because of how they're formulated. Here's what you need to know about each.
How Extended-Release Injections Work
A regular injection delivers medication into your body all at once, similar to a vaccine. Extended-release buprenorphine injections work differently. When the medication is injected under the skin (subcutaneously), it forms a small, soft depot, sometimes described as a gel-like deposit, that stays in place at the injection site. From there, buprenorphine is gradually released into your bloodstream over days or weeks, rather than all at once. This slow-release design is exactly why a single injection can take the place of taking a sublingual film or tablet every single day. It also means the medication doesn't need to be stored, carried, or remembered between clinic visits.
Sublocade Dosing Interval
Sublocade is a monthly-only injection. Treatment starts with a single small transmucosal dose to confirm tolerability, followed by two loading injections of 300mg, given one week to one month apart. After that, maintenance dosing moves to 100mg once a month, with a required minimum of 26 days between injections. For patients who need a higher dose to adequately manage symptoms, a 300mg monthly option is also available. Sublocade is administered by a healthcare provider and is not something you inject yourself.
Brixadi Dosing Options
Brixadi is built around flexibility, offering two distinct dosing schedules so you and your provider can choose the one that fits your life and clinical needs. The weekly option comes in 8mg, 16mg, 24mg, or 32mg doses, injected every 7 days. The monthly option comes in 64mg, 96mg, or 128mg doses, injected every 28 days. Like Sublocade, Brixadi is given subcutaneously by a healthcare provider.
| Product | Dosing Interval | Typical Dose Range |
|---|---|---|
| Sublocade | Every month (min. 26 days between doses) | 100mg (300mg option available) |
| Brixadi (weekly) | Every 7 days | 8-32mg |
| Brixadi (monthly) | Every 28 days | 64-128mg |
According to FDA prescribing information, Sublocade maintenance treatment requires a minimum of 26 days between 100mg (or 300mg) monthly injections, following two initial 300mg loading doses. Brixadi's FDA label confirms two approved schedules: weekly injections (8-32mg every 7 days) and monthly injections (64-128mg every 28 days).
What Happens Between Doses
Between injections, the medication continues releasing steadily from the depot at the injection site, rather than rising and falling sharply the way a once-daily dose can. This steady release is part of why many patients find extended-release injections offer more consistent symptom control compared to remembering a daily film or tablet. You won't feel or need to do anything with the injection site between visits; it simply continues working in the background until your next scheduled dose. Your provider will track how you're doing at each visit and can adjust your dose or schedule if needed.
What If You're Late for a Dose?
Life happens, and sometimes a scheduled injection visit gets pushed back. If you think you might miss your dosing window, whether for Sublocade or Brixadi, the most important step is to contact your provider's office as soon as possible, ideally before the window closes. Don't try to manage a delay on your own or make changes to any other medication to "cover the gap." Your care team can review your specific situation and help you get back on schedule safely, since the right approach can depend on individual factors that are best assessed by your provider.
This article is for general educational purposes and isn't a substitute for individualized medical advice. Your treatment plan, including your specific dosing schedule, should be developed with your own provider.