Opiate withdrawal using lofexidine, a clonidine analogue with fewer side effects.
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.
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003000:Clonidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008692:Methadyl Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D008692:Methadyl Acetate; D003000:Clonidine; D008691:Methadone; C025655:lofexidine