Differences in the Receptor Binding Profile of Lofexidine Compared to Clonidine

Lucemyra? (lofexidine hydrochloride) has recently been approved by the US FDA for the mitigation of withdrawal symptoms to facilitate abrupt discontinuation of opioids in adults. Lofexidine is an alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist. However, the clinical attributes of lofexidine differ in advantageous ways from the classical alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist clonidine. In the present study, we measured the receptor binding profile of lofexidine and clonidine in an effort to gain an insight into the clinical difference(s).