Lofexidine; The New Treatment Alternative?

I thought I’d open up discussion about a new drug that’s most likely going to hit the market in the coming years, called lofexidine. It’s a hypertensive, very similar in structure to clonidine, but supposedly more effective at curbing WD’s and for a longer duration.

Brittania Pharmeceuticals recently licensed US World Meds to sell lofexidine in the US, and it just recently (June 2008), completed Phase III of clinical trials in order to pass FDA regulations. The drug has been used in Britain since 1992 for the treatment of opiate withdrawals. See: http://britlofex.co.uk/

I’ve personally never tried clonidine for withdrawals so I have no idea how well it works, nor do I know if lofexidine is going to do what they say it will. So, I’d love to hear from anyone who’s tried either lofexidine or clonidine. Give us the good and the bad.

My view on opiate detox/withdrawal medications is that they only work if they’re used right. When I say “used right”, I mean that you’ve thoroughly done your research to see what the pros and cons are. Remember, pharmaceutical companies are looking to make a profit, so you need to look out for yourself. If you can use lofexidine to find a little comfort, then by all means, get a script. But, make sure you’re aware of all the side effects. If the doc says you need to take it for 3-months, but your research says otherwise, then mention it to him/her.

I don’t think that there’s any medication out there that doesn’t have some sort of negative side effect. Let’s find out what they are for lofexidine, so we don’t jump in blind-folded.