Opiate withdrawal using lofexidine, a clonidine analogue with fewer side effects

• Published in: The journal of clinical psychiatry Vol. 44; no. 9; pp. 335 - 337
• Main Authors: WASHTON, A. M, RESNICK, R. B, GEYER, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Memphis, TN Physicians Postgraduate Press 01-01-1983
• Subjects: Adult; Ambulatory Care; Antihypertensive Agents - adverse effects; Antihypertensive Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical Trials as Topic; Clonidine - adverse effects; Clonidine - analogs & derivatives; Clonidine - therapeutic use; Drug addictions; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Methadone - administration & dosage; Methadyl Acetate - administration & dosage; Opioid-Related Disorders - rehabilitation; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - prevention & control; Toxicology; Human; Drug addiction; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Opiates; Withdrawal syndrome; Α-Adrenergic receptor agonist
• ISSN: 0160-6689; 1555-2101

In an open clinical trial, lofexidine, an alpha-noradrenergic agonist similar to clonidine, was administered to 30 opiate-dependent outpatient volunteers following abrupt discontinuation of chronic methadone or levo-alpha acetylmethadol (LAAM). Lofexidine significantly reduced opiate withdrawal symptoms without the adverse sedative and hypotensive effects that limit the safety and usefulness of clonidine. Lofexidine might prove to be a safer and more effective nonopiate treatment for opiate withdrawal, especially for ambulatory outpatients; controlled studies are required to confirm this possibility.