Differential effects of acute and chronic treatment with the α2-adrenergic agonist, lofexidine, on cocaine self-administration in rhesus monkeys.

BACKGROUND: Lofexidine, an α2-adrenergic agonist, is being investigated as a treatment for reducing opioid withdrawal symptoms and blocking stress-induced relapse to cocaine taking. Opioid abusers are often polydrug abusers and cocaine is one frequent drug of choice. However, relatively little is known about lofexidine interactions with cocaine. The present study investigated the effects of acute and chronic treatment with lofexidine in a pre-clinical model of cocaine self-administration.
METHODS: Male rhesus monkeys were trained to respond for food (1g) and cocaine (0.01 mg/kg/injection) under a fixed ratio 30 (FR30) or a second order FR2 (VR16:S) schedule of reinforcement. Systematic observations of behavior were conducted during and after chronic treatment with lofexidine.
RESULTS: Acute treatment with lofexidine (0.1 or 0.32 mg/kg, IM) significantly reduced cocaine self-administration but responding for food was less effected. In contrast, chronic treatment (7-10 days) with lofexidine (0.1-0.32 mg/kg/h, IV) produced a leftward shift in the cocaine self-administration dose-effect curve, but had no effect on food-maintained responding. Lofexidine did not produce any observable side effects during or after treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: Lofexidine potentiated cocaine's reinforcing effects during chronic treatment. These data suggest that it is unlikely to be effective as a cocaine abuse medication and could enhance risk for cocaine abuse in polydrug abusers.