FDA approves first non-opioid treatment for opioid withdrawal

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved privately held US WorldMeds LLC's Lucemyra (lofexidine hydrochloride) for the mitigation of withdrawal symptoms to facilitate abrupt discontinuation of opioids in adults. While Lucemyra may lessen the severity of withdrawal symptoms, it may not completely prevent them and is only approved for treatment for up to 14 days. Lucemyra is not a treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), but can be used as part of a broader, long-term treatment plan for managing OUD.

Lucemyra is an orally available alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonist that reduces the release of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in many opioid withdrawal symptoms.

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