Ocular hypotensive effects of lofexidine, an alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonist

✍ Scribed by Edward E. Elko; Tung Tran; Harbans Lal; Dr. Thomas Yorio

• Book ID: 102141967
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1988
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 355 KB
• Volume: 14
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0272-4391
• DOI: 10.1002/ddr.430140208

✦ Synopsis

The present study examines the ocular hypotensive efficacy end pupillary response of the alpharadrenergic receptor agonists lofexidine and clonidine. The topical administration of lofexidine to rabbit eyes in concentrations ranging from 0.25 to 5%, produced a dosedependent bilateral reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP), with the contralateral (untreated) eye exhibiting a significantly greater reduction in IOP than the ipsilateral (treated) eye, particularly at the lower concentrations. The maximum decrease in IOP was observed at 60 min postdrug with the IOP recovering gradually to predrug values with time. Pupillary dilatation was observed only in the drug-treated eye. Unlike lofexidine, clonidine had no effect on pupillary diameter. Clonidine decreased IOP predominantly in the untreated contralateral eye at doses ranging from 0.625% to 5%, whereas a significant ocular hypertensive effect of clonidine was noted at the 7.5% dose in the treated ipsilateral eye. The present data provide evidence that topically administered lofexidine lowers IOP in normotensive New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits.