Sublocade vs Suboxone
Side-by-side cost comparison based on Medicare Part D data
Sublocade
Buprenorphine (injection)
Manufactured by Indivior
Suboxone
Buprenorphine/Naloxone
Manufactured by Indivior
Suboxone costs 90% less per claim than Sublocade ($185.00 vs $1,839.00). A generic version of Suboxone is also available, which may reduce costs further.
Cost Per Claim
Medicare Spending
Beneficiaries
Annual Cost Per Patient
Full Comparison
| Metric | Sublocade | Suboxone |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Cost Per Claim | $1,839.00 | $185.00 |
| Total Medicare Spending | $456.0M | $1.6B |
| Total Beneficiaries | 28,000 | 724,000 |
| Total Claims | 248,000 | 8,460,000 |
| Annual Cost/Patient | $16,286.00 | $2,164.00 |
| Year-over-Year Change | +28.4% | -12.3% |
| Generic Available | Yes | Yes |
| Patent Expiration | Jan 31, 2023 | Jan 31, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Indivior | Indivior |
| Condition | Opioid Dependence | Opioid Dependence |
| Generic Name | Buprenorphine (injection) | Buprenorphine/Naloxone |
Sublocade vs Suboxone: What the Data Shows
Sublocade (Buprenorphine (injection)) and Suboxone (Buprenorphine/Naloxone) are both used to treat opioid dependence. Based on Medicare Part D data, Suboxone costs $185.00 per claim, which is 90% less than Sublocade at $1,839.00 per claim.
Medicare spent $456.0M on Sublocade and $1.6B on Suboxone. In terms of patient reach, Suboxone serves more beneficiaries (724,000 vs 28,000).
Year-over-year spending changed +28.4% for Sublocade and -12.3% for Suboxone. Sublocade saw significant spending growth, suggesting increased utilization or price increases.
Both drugs have generic versions available. Patients should discuss generic alternatives with their pharmacist to reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Suboxone is cheaper at $185.00 per claim, compared to $1,839.00 for Sublocade. That makes Suboxone about 90% less expensive per claim based on Medicare Part D data.
Yes, both Sublocade and Suboxone are used to treat opioid dependence. Your doctor can help determine which medication is more appropriate for your specific situation.
Both drugs have generic versions available. Generic Buprenorphine (injection) and generic Buprenorphine/Naloxone can offer significant cost savings, typically 80-95% less than the brand name.
Medicare Part D spent $456.0M on Sublocade covering 28,000 beneficiaries, and $1.6B on Suboxone covering 724,000 beneficiaries.
Explore Further
Cost data reflects Medicare Part D spending and may not represent retail pharmacy prices. Average cost per claim represents the total drug cost (not patient out-of-pocket) divided by total claims. This comparison is informational only and should not replace medical advice.
Comparing Sublocade and Suboxone on U.S. Medicare prescription-drug pricing requires lining up the underlying CMS Medicare Part D Drug Spending data data side by side. The table above runs the comparison on the canonical fields; the narrative below identifies the factor or factors that drive the most meaningful difference between the two.
For households or analysts using this comparison as a decision input, the right framing is usually not "which is better" in aggregate but "which is better for the specific decision in front of you." CMS Medicare Part D Drug Spending data captures the raw data; the framing depends on whether the question is investment, residency, planning, or research.
Source: CMS Medicare Part D Spending, 2026.