Lofexidine (Britofex)

Lofexidine is prescribed to reduce the symptoms of withdrawal from Opiate addiction during supervised detoxification. The drug acts on Alpha-Adrenoceptors in the Brain to reduce impulses in the sympathetic nervous system - the natural fight or flight response.

It is thought that Opiate withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, diarrhoea, chills, cramps and so on are caused by a temporary excess of a chemical in the body called Noradrenaline. Lofexidine reduces the effect of Noradrenaline, thus reducing Opiate withdrawal symptoms. However, it does not repress all Opiate withdrawal symptoms, in particular tiredness and sleeplessness.

The course is administered either over five days (known as the 5 day detox) or as a 7-to-12-day programme. Lofexidine is a treatment which is used for the management of withdrawal symptoms in patients undergoing Heroin or Opiate detox.

Lofexidine is a treatment which is used for the management of withdrawal symptoms in patients undergoing Heroin or Opiate detoxification. It is effective in reducing the withdrawal symptoms such as chills, sweating, stomach cramps, diarrhoea, muscle pain, runny nose and eyes. Lofexidine is not an Opiate like Heroin and is non-addictive, it does not cause withdrawal symptoms of its own.

Lofexidine is an Alpha-2 Adrenergic Agonist which can be used in the management of the symptoms of Opiate withdrawal. It is a similar drug to Clonidine, the use of which is limited due to the likelihood of Postural Hypotension: this side-effect is less marked with Lofexidine.

Lofexidine blocks the Adrenaline/Noradrenaline related withdrawal symptoms of Opiate withdrawal. It does not affect other Opiate withdrawal symptoms such as muscle aches, insomnia and craving.

 

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