Effective January 23, 2024, alendronate, vitamin D3, and XR-Buprenorphine (Sublocade^®) have been added to the ADAP formulary.

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that results from bone loss. With osteoporosis, bones become weak and brittle and are more likely to break. The risk of osteoporosis increases as people age and people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may be at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis due to chronic inflammation and medication side effects. Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that promotes the absorption of calcium and phosphorus and is also important for maintaining healthy bones. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to increased inflammation that can occur with HIV infection. Alendronate and vitamin D3 are commonly used medications to treat osteoporosis and vitamin D deficiency, respectively. In randomized controlled trials, alendronate increased bone mineral density, decreased bone turnover, and reduced the risk of fracture. The addition of alendronate and vitamin D3 to the ADAP formulary will give healthcare providers additional options to maintain healthy bones.

The ADAP formulary is also adding an additional medication that can be used for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). Long-acting injectable buprenorphine (XR-Buprenorphine; Sublocade^®) is a partial opioid agonist that binds to the opioid receptors but activates them weakly. This partial binding reduces cravings for other opioids and withdrawal symptoms and reduces the risk of a fatal opioid overdose by up to 80 percent. XR-Buprenorphine is a once-monthly subcutaneous injection that may be preferable to daily sublingual dosing for some patients. Adding XR-Buprenorphine to the ADAP formulary will ensure ADAP clients have additional options to treat OUD.

​ADAP management requests that you share this information with your clinical leadership team and local prescribers. The ADAP drug formulary has been updated to reflect the addition of alendronate, vitamin D3 and XR-Buprenorphine (Sublocade^®).

If you have any questions regarding the addition of these medications to the ADAP formulary, please contact the OA Formulary Specialist, James Vo (James.Vo@cdph.ca.gov ).

Thank you,