Sublocade Shot for Opioid Use Disorder in Fort Lauderdale
Same-day visits are often possible
See us in our Fort Lauderdale office or by video anywhere in Florida. We take Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare and most major insurance plans. Se habla español.
Sublocade is a once-a-month buprenorphine shot for opioid use disorder. One visit a month replaces daily films or tablets, so there’s nothing to carry, lose or run out of.
We give Sublocade at our Fort Lauderdale office to adults with moderate to severe opioid use disorder, as part of our substance use treatment.
What Is Sublocade?
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist. It quiets withdrawal and cravings without the highs and crashes of full opioids. Sublocade goes under the skin and forms a small deposit that releases buprenorphine steadily for a month.
What It’s Used For
Moderate to severe opioid use disorder in adults who have started treatment with a single dose of buprenorphine under the tongue or who are already on buprenorphine. It’s meant to go along with counseling and support.
How the Shot Is Given
Starting
If you’re not on buprenorphine yet, you’ll take a dose under the tongue once you have clear withdrawal signs. That’s usually at least 6 hours after short-acting opioids and 24 hours after long-acting ones. We watch you for about an hour to make sure it goes well, then give the first shot. If you’re already on buprenorphine, you can switch over directly.
After that
The second shot can come as soon as a week later. After the first two, it’s one shot a month, at least 26 days apart. It goes under the skin of the belly, thigh, buttock or back of the upper arm, in a new spot each time. After each shot, we make sure you’re stable before you leave.
You may feel a small lump under the skin for a few weeks. That’s the medicine. Don’t rub it, and keep tight waistbands or belts off it.
Is It Right for Me?
Your provider will ask about lung problems, sleep apnea, liver disease including hepatitis, heart rhythm problems, head injury, adrenal or thyroid problems, trouble urinating, heavy drinking, depression and all your medicines. If you’re pregnant or planning to be, tell us. We treat opioid use during pregnancy too.
Side Effects
The most common are constipation, headache, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, itching or pain where the shot went in, and higher liver enzymes on blood tests.
Call us right away or get emergency care if you have:
- Slow, shallow or difficult breathing, or extreme sleepiness
- Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or pain in the upper right belly
- Withdrawal symptoms that don’t settle
- Rash, swelling or trouble breathing
- Chest pain or a changed heartbeat
Important Safety Information
This shot turns into a gel or solid deposit under the skin. Injected into a vein, it can cause serious harm or death. That’s why the FDA only lets it reach patients through a safety program called a REMS. It’s never handed to you to take home. It’s given only by a healthcare provider in a certified setting.
Don’t drink alcohol or use street drugs, sedatives or benzodiazepines unless your provider says it’s OK. Mixing them with buprenorphine can slow your breathing to a dangerous level. In an emergency, make sure family or medical staff know you’re on buprenorphine. We’ll check your liver tests before and during treatment.
If You Miss a Shot
Come in as soon as you can. The next one is then due at least 26 days later. A delay of up to 2 weeks now and then isn’t expected to make much difference, but call us so we can plan. If you’re stable on monthly shots and will be away for a while, the FDA label allows a single shot to cover a 2-month interval in some cases, such as extended travel. Your provider decides whether that’s appropriate, and monthly shots resume afterward.
Getting Sublocade at One Stop Psychiatry
1. Reach out
Call (754) 270-6322 or request an appointment online. We’re open Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If you already get this shot somewhere else and need a new place to keep it going, tell us when your next one is due so we can try to see you in time.
2. We check your coverage
Our staff verify your insurance, send your intake packet and confirm the time of your visit. Some plans require prior authorization before they’ll cover an injection. Our staff send your insurance company the information it asks for, but the insurance company makes the final decision on coverage.
3. Evaluation
Your provider goes over your history, the medicines you’ve tried, how you’ve done on them and your medical health. We’ll also talk about counseling and support, which work alongside the medicine.
4. Your injection visits
Shots are given by our medical providers at our office at 3015 N Ocean Blvd, Ste C101, Fort Lauderdale. Between shots, many check-ins can happen by video if you’re in Florida.
Common Questions
How long does Sublocade last?
A month. After the first two shots, you come in once a month.
Does the Sublocade shot hurt?
Most people feel a pinch and some soreness. The spot can itch or stay tender for a few days.
Can I start Sublocade if I’m on Suboxone?
Yes. If you’re already on buprenorphine, you can switch over directly.
What if I travel?
Following the FDA label, people who are stable on monthly shots can sometimes get one shot to cover a 2-month interval, such as for extended travel. Your provider decides.
Does insurance cover Sublocade?
Many plans do. Some require prior authorization. Our staff send your insurer what it needs, but the insurance company decides whether it will cover the shot.
Related Pages
- Brixadi shot
- Vivitrol shot
- Substance use treatment
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
- All long-acting injections we give
Insurance and Cost
We take Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Humana and Optum, and we offer sliding-scale self-pay rates for visits. What you’ll pay for the medicine itself depends on your plan. We check your benefits before your first shot, though your insurance company makes the final call on coverage. More on insurance.
Several of our providers and staff speak Spanish.
We aren’t an emergency service. If you’re thinking about suicide or you’re in crisis, call or text 988. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Andrew C. Rucker, DO, psychiatrist, on October 6, 2026.
Sources: FDA label: Sublocade; MedlinePlus: Buprenorphine Injection. This page is general information, not medical advice.
Who You'll See
Your care is with our team of psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Some of them speak Spanish. Our staff can help you choose someone who's a good fit.
Dr. Andrew C. Rucker, DOPsychiatrist
Dr. Murtaza Ali, DOAddiction specialist and family physician
Dr. Heather Brathwaite, PhD, PMHNP-BCPsychiatric nurse practitioner
Michelle KovalPsychiatric nurse practitioner
Neal Fouke, PAPsychiatric physician assistant
Muhammad Nawaz, PMHNP-BCPsychiatric nurse practitionerRequest an Appointment
Tell us how to reach you. Our team calls back the same business day, Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Your appointment is confirmed once staff call you to set the time and place.
Prefer to talk to someone? Call (754) 270-6322.
Our Office
3015 N Ocean Blvd, Ste C101, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308. Phone: (754) 270-6322. Open Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Video visits are available anywhere in Florida. Directions and parking.