Do Suboxone and Methadone Have a New Cousin?
US WorldMeds is a Kentucky-based specialty pharmaceutical company and they have recently completed Phase III clinical trials of lofexidine hydrochloride (Lofexidine) in the treatment of opiate addiction. More specifically, Lofexidine would treat the withdrawal symptoms associated with opiate detox just like buprenorphine and methadone. So is there a new treatment in the world of opiate addiction? According to Medical News Today, “opiate-dependent patients taking the drug experienced a significant reduction in withdrawal symptoms at the anticipated peak of withdrawal and stayed longer in detoxification treatment as compared to patients taking placebo.”
The Hope of a New Option for Opiate Addiction
Paul Breckinridge “Breck” Jones is the CEO of US WorldMeds. He says, “The debilitating withdrawal symptoms associated with opiate detoxification are a major reason people struggling with heroin or prescription drug addiction avoid or leave treatment. These trial results are impressive and confirm our expectations for Lofexidine. Lofexidine promises to be an important new tool for treating opiate addiction here in the US.”
The Difference Between Lofexidine and Buprenorphine
From what I can tell, the biggest difference is that Lofexidine is non-addictive and non-narcotic, unlike buprenorphine which works because it is an opiate with a high affinity for the opiate receptors that require constant engagement when you are an opiate addict. So Lofexidine is more of a treatment for the withdrawal symptoms than it is for the addiction. It eases the vomiting and nausea, stomach and muscle cramps, cold sweats and insomnia.
What This Could Mean to Opiate Addiction Treatment
Lofexidine is not yet approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) so this is purely speculation, but if the drug were to be approved, it would be the only non-narcotic treatment available for treating opiate withdrawal symptoms. According to Medical News Today,
“Lofexidine has been approved for use for 15 years in the United Kingdom (UK) to manage the often debilitating withdrawal symptoms that occur during opiate detoxification.
“Given the encouraging initial results of the Phase III clinical trial, US WorldMeds intends to submit a new drug application (NDA) for Lofexidine with the FDA for US approval. The NDA will be filed after the complete dataset from the trial, including additional efficacy and safety measures, is analyzed, and additional required studies are completed.”
What do you think?
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June 30th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I think it would be great, especially if you wont get hooked on it. YEA!
July 4th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
are trial use programs available? What about Mexico?
July 8th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
It is hard enough being a drug addict, mine was prescription pain
killers, what started out innocently turned my life into a whirlwind upsidedown.
I have tried the methodone treatment which was a complete failure because i became more dependent on the methadone physically than any other drug I came across!
Next came the suboxone. That is the only thing that makes me feel normal, be able to go on with life in a manner in which i am able to work and be in a social situation without having to be completely high. I can once again be myself, after 15 years, i am
still learning who I am but with the suboxone for my cravings, my counselor for my physcological well being and NA, I honestly believe I can make it,for once in my life i have some hope!
I dont think we should keep messing around with these new drugs created by people who have no idea what its like to be an addict, doing and saying things you never would if you wasnt completely high, stealing,lying and cheating for that next high. I am tired of being a guinee pig for these people so they can make millions and have their name in the medical journal as to how they solved the problems of having junkies being a wart on societies ass!
Its time to realize if you need pain medication that bad, then you should be hospitalized, I dont believe any pain medication contracts should be out there, thats just adding fuel to the fire. We need to stand up as one and say ENOUGH! We are people, not test subjects to see who can be the hero, the hero is the addict that beats the drug, and also the one that keeps on trying!
August 29th, 2008 at 1:39 am
It’s entirely possible that the people, scientists, doctors or whoever that are experimenting with these new drugs to cure or help with addiction are doing it because they really believe in helping people. Maybe someday someone will discover a “magic pill” to cure us of our disease. I think it’s great that there is a drug, Loxefidine, that is non-narcotic and non-addictive, that can help alliviate opiate withdrawl symtoms. I hope they can work with this and add to it. Something non-narcotic and non-addictive that would not only treat the withdrawl symtoms but would also take away the cravings like Methadone and Suboxone does.
October 7th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
15 yrs in UK…not that new. Subutex/suboxone= Buprenorphine: 20 years in use in europe for pain/analgesia, and opiate addiction. Sub is still an oid. If this is non-narc…..sign me up….clinical trials???email me. Chronic pain pts need a drug like this to take breaks from and deal w/ tolerance issues. I hope it works~