Effectiveness of lofexidine in blocking morphine-withdrawal signs in the rat.
Discontinuation of chronic morphine infusion in rats resulted in the reliable occurrence of withdrawal body shakes. This sign of narcotic withdrawal was dose-dependently reduced by lofexidine (0.04-0.64 mg/kg) and clonidine (0.01-0.16 mg/kg). As with clonidine, the activity of lofexidine was not prevented by naloxone (5 mg/kg). In addition, diarrhea induced by naloxone (5 mg/kg) in morphine dependent rats was also prevented by lofexidine or clonidine pretreatment. These data suggest that lofexidine, like clonidine, may reduce the narcotic withdrawal syndrome in humans.
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003000:Clonidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000517:prevention & control; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009021:Morphine Dependence / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*
D009270:Naloxone; D003000:Clonidine; C025655:lofexidine