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Lofexidine for opiate detoxification

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 June 2014

Jenny Bearn
Jenny Bearn*
Affiliation:
South London & Maudsley NHS Trust, National Addiction Center, Institute of Psychiatry, Windsor Walk, London, UK
*
Jenny Bearn, Wickham Park House, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 3BX, UK. Tel: (44) 0208 776 4114; Fax: (44) 0208 776 2026; E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

The evolving role for lofexidine in the treatment of opiate detoxification over the last decade is reviewed. Lofexidine is no better than methadone or clonidine in attenuating withdrawal symptom severity, although it has a more favourable side-effect profile than clonidine. In conjunction with opiate antagonists, lofexidine may facilitate accelerated withdrawal, although activity and low liability for misuse, lofexidine may be more widely acceptable to clinicians than methadone, particularly those working in out-patient, non-specialist and prison treatment settings. Further studies in these treatment settings will be particularly apposite since, apart from the studies highlighted, the evidence base for the clinical value of lofexidine is mainly to be derived from in-patient trials.

Keywords

opiatedetoxificationlofexidineherointreatment
Type
Original Article
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 16 , Issue 5 , October 2004 , pp. 239 - 245
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 Blackwell Munksgaard

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