At the completion of this activity, participants will:
Describe the importance of addressing opioid withdrawal syndrome.
Identify lofexidine as a treatment for acute opioid withdrawal symptoms.
Describe how to appropriately transition patients to comprehensive care programs.
Presentation Summary: Patients wanting to discontinue opioid use and transition to maintenance treatment have to go through opioid withdrawal syndrome, a collection of symptoms which are often distressful and are the primary reason for continuation of opioid use. Abrupt discontinuation of chronic use of opioids, whether prescribed or not, leads to opioid withdrawal syndrome. Cases are discussed which strongly support the role of lofexidine to treat withdrawal symptoms in variety of clinical scenarios and enable opioid dependent patients to enter into a comprehensive care program.
