Lofexidine For Heroin Addiction

Addiction takes time to manifest. You don’t become an addict overnight. One treatment that has shown promise is Lofexidine for heroin addiction.

It can be heroin, prescription pain killers or an over reliance on over the counter medication that contains codeine. How it starts isn’t the issue it is how you stop that counts.

Lofexidine For Heroin Addiction is one option that can help support people through the withdrawal process. Stopping opioids is rarely easy. Withdrawal from opioids can be very tough: Physically and psychologically.

Your brain, when you stop taking opioids, will produce excess amounts of noradrenaline. It is this that creates the physical symptoms synonymous with withdrawal.

Lofexidine For Heroin Addiction: Why Do Opioids Cause Addiction?

When you take opioids they sit on receptors in the brain. There presence initiates the release of naturally occurring chemicals that not only block nerve pathways but also provide an intense sense of euphoria and wellbeing.

After a period of time taking opioids the brain will become accustomed to their presence and will re-programme itself.

The problem is that the brain will enter a state known as tolerance. This means that you will need ever increasing amounts of the drug to have the same effect as the amount you first started with.

Lofexidine For Heroin Addiction: What is Lofexidine

What it is not is an opioid.

Unlike Methadone and Buprenorphine, Lofexidine is not a substitute for heroin and opioids. With Lofexidine medical treatment for addiction can be achieved in less than three weeks.

It is not a controlled drug, though it is only available on prescription.

Lofexidine For Heroin Addiction :How Does Lofexidine Work?

When you stop taking opioids the brain can not cope with the immediate change. Incorrect chemical messaging occurs.

In opioid withdrawal, noradrenergic signalling is put into overdrive.

This is what causes withdrawal symptoms.
Lofexidine reduces this signalling.

This makes it easier to go through withdrawal.
Because Lofexidine is not an opioid, dosing is far more straightforward.

Usually, Three tablets (0.54MG) are taken four times a day. There is no clinical evidence for exceeding this dose though it is possible to take four, four times a day.

Sometimes, if the standard dose is not producing the required result your clinician can introduce the fourth tablet. The symptoms should peak on day three, depending on what opioids you were taking and how long you were taking them for.
Treatment lasts for between five to fourteen days.

For safety reasons (to prevent high blood pressure) Lofexidine should be reduced over a two to four day period.
it can be taken without food but it is important to spread out dosing and taken no less than six hours apart.

Lofexidine For Heroin Addiction :Considerations

There are some instances where Lofexidine should not be used or used with caution

• Beta blockers: Lofexidine can increase the risk of severe slow heart rate and low blood pressure.
  History of heart disease: People with a history of heart block, arrhythmia or low blood pressure may be excluded from treatment with Lofexidine.
• Hepatic and renal failure: Lofexidine can not be effectively metaobolised in those with a history of kidney and liver disease.
• Pregnant/breastfeeding women: Medication, during the trial phase (before it is licenced) is never tested on pregnant women.
• As such the safety data on Lofexidine is scarce. From what evidence is available, it is believed that Lofexidine is a risk to pregnant women and those breastfeeding. However, that risk may be far lower than not having treatment.

Side effects of Lofexidine

Like all medications, there are some recorded side effects with Lofexidine.

The usual side effects are:
Drowsiness
Sedation
Orthostatic hypotension (feeling dizzy when standing up)
Slow heart rate
Dry mouth
Low blood pressure
High blood pressure (if stopped quickly)
Fainting

What Lofexidine Can’t Do

Lofexidine is very useful for managing opioid withdrawal symptoms. However, it is not a conventional treatment for opioid use disorder. While it can help someone to manage their withdrawals it does not address the psychological aspects of addiction.
Simply getting through withdrawals, whilst a vital element of treatment, is only one aspect of recovery.

Can My GP Prescribe Lofexidine on the NHS?

No.

Due to the way the NHS commissions addiction services, your GP can not provide you with an NHS prescription for Lofexidine.

While, now, very rare, there are a few “shared care” NHS GP services that are commissioned to provide addiction services but these are the exception, and not the rule.

Lofexidine For Heroin Addiction :What About Home Treatment?

With Lofexidine, very close medical monitoring is needed. This is because of the effect it has on blood pressure.

You will need a live in nurse or highly trained support worker would be needed 24/7. This would make the cost far higher than a stay in rehab.

In any event, treatment at home won’t provide the three other elements needed for recovery: Therapy, relapse prevention and aftercare.

With withdrawal comes cravings. At home, you simply wouldn’t have the support you need to deal with them. When you stop taking opioids your tolerance to them drops. If you succumb to cravings you run the risk of accidental overdose.

This is because you are likely to take an amount you think you need to settle yourself. This will be more than your brain can handle and an overdose is very highly likely.

Lofexidine For Heroin Addiction :The Benefits of Rehab

Rehab is where people go to recover.

All the staff: The experienced addictions clinicians to addiction specialist therapists and trained support workers, everyone there is interested in only one thing: Your recovery.

Most of the therapists and support staff in rehab centres are in active recovery. While everyone’s experience of addiction is different, there are some common experiences. The staff never judge. They are there to help.

Therapy

No one chooses to be an addict.

Even if the problem stems from a legitimate prescription following an injury, without therapy, a detox will lead to relapse.

Every rehab centre in the world has a group therapy model at it’s core. 12 STEP/SMART or eclectic. It really doesn’t matter.

Therapy can be challenging. The hard work will be worth it in the end.

Trauma from childhood, adult life, stress at home and/or work. It all adds up.

Addiction is a symptom. Something has gone wrong in your life. Addiction is an escape from it. If you can undo your thinking about situations you can be free of addiction.

Relapse Prevention

People leave rehab with a sense of renewal.

You will have put in a tremendous amount of work and it is time to reap the rewards. With more energy and direction and no time being wasted sourcing drugs, you will be able to get so much done.

The reality of life will be yours to face, with support from the rehab centre and community groups, but it is time to test your skills.

In rehab you will learn a multitude of skills that can be used to get you through the difficult moments. Dealers don’t disappear just because you have been in rehab just as your corner shop would remove alcohol from the shelves if you were recovering from alcohol addiction.

Relapse happens: FACT. It doesn’t happen to everyone but, if it does happen, with the right skills, you will be in a much better place to deal with it.

Aftercare

All rehab centres provide a minimum of a years aftercare.

There will be regular telephone check in and a weekly support group.

If you find yourself struggling, there will be a number to call for help.

Get Free Advice From An Experienced Addictions Clinician

You can get free advice from an experienced addictions clinician.

We can advise you on where you can get into recovery using Lofexidine and don’t charge for treatment referrals.

Our advice is impartial and given in the strictest of confidence.

We only signpost to legally registered centres.

Our service is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Lofexidine for heroin addiction is possible and it is available.

Medication for Heroin addiction can take many forms.