Lofexidine

(Britlofex)

Lofexidine is taken to relieve the symptoms experienced when regular use of an opiate (e.g. heroin) is stopped. Symptoms include stomach cramps, sweating, chills, muscle cramps and a runny nose. It belongs to the group of medicines known as alpha agonists. Lofexidine is available in tablet form and it is also sometimes known as Britlofex. 

Lofexidine is a drug that reduces the effect of excess noradrenaline in your system during a detox.  It isn't an opiate and its only function is to prevent the action of extra noradrenaline in your system.  Using opiates makes it harder for the body to produce a chemical called noradrenaline, so your system gears up to work extra hard to produce it.  When you stop using opiates your body is still working hard to produce extra and it is this overload of noradrenaline that causes most of the physical withdrawal symptoms, as it over-stimulates the brain and nervous system.  You can't get dependent on it in the same way that you can with opiates.  It can be taken as part of an inpatient detox programme or at home.

There is a similar drug that is still used sometimes in detox units and hospital wards called Clonidine.  Clonidine tends to lower blood pressure more than Lofexidine, so it can't be safely prescribed to people who are detoxing at home.  This excess lowering of blood pressure also makes it difficult to increase the dose of Clonidine if the withdrawal symptoms are not being controlled.

Lofexidine:

• Reduces the physical withdrawals, but doesn't deal with the craving for opiates

• Is non-addictive

• Has to be prescribed to you by a Doctor

• Makes quick detox's less painful than it would have been with nothing

• Works better for some people than for others

• Means that you can stop taking opiates as soon as you have decided that it is what you want to do

• Enables you to know from the start that the detox wont drag on: they usually last 7-10 days

• Can make you feel drowsy

• Can make you feel faint/giddy when you stand up or get out of a hot bath

• Won't really help you sleep

• Can't be stopped suddenly: the dose has to be reduced over 2-3 days

A Lofexidine detox is much more likely to be successful if you:

• Are certain that you want to come off quickly

• Are ready to cope with some withdrawal symptoms (especially in the first 3-4 days)

• Can't get a bed in a specialist detox unit

• Don't take more than you are prescribed: you will only increase the side effects and you won't reduce the withdrawals

• Expect to feel the psychological effects of the detox even thought the physical symptoms will be reduced

• Expect to feel bad and not sleep well for at least a fortnight and possibly much longer

You should also take care when you get up out of a chair or bed or out of a hot bath as Lofexidine can make you feel faint.

Before taking Lofexidine tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are: pregnant, trying for a baby, or breast-feeding; if you suffer from heart, kidney or blood pressure problems; if you suffer from or have ever suffered from depression; if you have ever had an allergic reaction to this or any other medicine; if you are taking any other medicines, including those available to buy without a prescription, herbal and complementary medicines

Click here to read the handbook 'Treatment Choices: Lofexidine' by HIT.

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Last updated: 23 October 2005