Drug General Information (ID: DDI0YPFLOD)
  Drug Name Lofexidine Drug Info Nitrous acid Drug Info
  Drug Type Small molecule Small molecule
  Therapeutic Class Antihypertensive Agents Antidotes
  Structure

 Mechanism of Lofexidine-Nitrous acid Interaction (Severity Level: Moderate)
     Additive hypotensive effects Click to Show/Hide Mechanism Graph
Could Not Find 2D Structure
      Drug Name Lofexidine Nitrous acid
      Mechanism Hypotensive effects
Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor  Agonist
Hypotensive effects
Guanylate cyclase  Agonist
      Key Mechanism Factor 1
Factor Name Adrenergic receptor alpha-2 Structure Sequence
Protein Family G-protein coupled receptor 1 family
Protein Function
Alpha-2 adrenergic receptors mediate the catecholamine-induced inhibition of adenylate cyclase through the action of G proteins. The rank order of potency for agonists of this receptor is oxymetazoline > clonidine > epinephrine > norepinephrine > phenylephrine > dopamine > p-synephrine > p-tyramine > serotonin = p-octopamine. For antagonists, the rank order is yohimbine > phentolamine = mianserine > chlorpromazine = spiperone = prazosin > propanolol > alprenolol = pindolol.
    Click to Show/Hide
      Key Mechanism Factor 2
Factor Name Guanylate cyclase soluble Structure Sequence
Protein Family Adenylyl cyclase class-4/guanylyl cyclase family
Protein Function
There are two types of guanylate cyclases: soluble forms and membrane-associated receptor forms. Activated by nitric oxide in the presence of magnesium or manganese ions.
    Click to Show/Hide
      Mechanism Description
  • Additive hypotensive effects by the combination of Lofexidine and Nitrous acid 

Recommended Action
      Management Sodium nitrite should be used with caution in the presence of concomitant antihypertensive agents, diuretics, vasodilators, or PDE5 inhibitors. Hemodynamics should be monitored during and after administration of sodium nitrite, and the infusion rate decreased if significant hypotension occurs. In addition, methemoglobin levels should be monitored and oxygen administered during treatment whenever possible.

References
1 Fuhr U, Maier-Bruggemann A, Blume H, et al. "Grapefruit juice increases oral nimodipine bioavailability." Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 36 (1998): 126-32. [PMID: 9562227]
2 Gunston GD, Mehta U "Potentially serious drug interactions with grapefruit juice." S Afr Med J 90 (2000): 41. [PMID: 10721388]
3 Product Information. Sodium Nitrite (sodium nitrite). Hope Pharmaceuticals, Scottsdale, AZ.