Lofexidine: A Novel Treatment Option for Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms.

Substance misuse in adults 60 years of age and older is one of the fastest-growing health issues in the United States. Alcohol and prescription drugs are among the most commonly misused agents. With growing concern for opioid-overdose deaths and the use of opioids in the treatment of persistent pain in older adults, it is imperative that practitioners are aware of emerging therapies used to manage the symptoms that may result after discontinuation of opioid medications. This review highlights the first nonopioid treatment plan for the management of opioid withdrawal symptoms with a novel pharmacologic mechanism.