What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
- Heart disease
- History of irregular or slow heartbeat
- History of lightheadedness, fainting spells
- History of stroke
- If you drink alcohol
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Long QT syndrome
- Low levels of calcium, magnesium, or potassium in the blood
- Low blood pressure
- An unusual or allergic reaction to lofexidine, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
- Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- Breast-feeding
What may interact with this medication?
Do not take this medication with any of the following:
- Cisapride
- Dronedarone
- Pimozide
- Thioridazine
This medication may also interact with the following:
- Alcohol
- Antihistamines for allergy, cough and cold
- Certain medications for anxiety or sleep
- Certain medications for blood pressure, heart disease, irregular heartbeat
- Certain medications for depression, such as amitriptyline, fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine
- Certain medications for seizures, such as phenobarbital, primidone
- General anesthetics, such as halothane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane, propofol
- Medications that relax muscles for surgery
- Methadone
- Naltrexone
- Opioid medications for pain
- Other medications that cause heart rhythm changes
- Phenothiazines, such as chlorpromazine, mesoridazine, prochlorperazine, thioridazine
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
What should I watch for while using this medication?
Visit your care team regularly. For this medication to be most effective, you should attend any counseling or support groups that your care team recommends.
You may become more sensitive to opioids after a period of not using them. This may increase your risk of overdose and death if you start using them again.
Be alert for any symptoms of low blood pressure or slow heart rate, such as dizziness and feeling faint or lightheaded at rest or after standing quickly from a sitting or lying position. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Avoid becoming dehydrated or overheated, which may increase the risk for low blood pressure and fainting. If you experience symptoms of low blood pressure or slow heart rate, do not take your next dose of this medication until you have talked to your care team.
This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgment. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects.