Apomorphine
Generic name: apomorphine
Brand names: Apokyn, Kynmobi
Dosage form: subcutaneous injection, sublingual film
Drug class:Dopaminergic antiparkinsonism agents
What is apomorphine?
Apomorphine belongs to a class of drugs called dopamine agonists. It is used to treat a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement called Parkinson's disease.
Dopamine agonist, such as apomorphine, are medications that mimic the action of dopamine. Dopamine is produced by the brain and acts as a messenger or neurotransmitter sending information between nerve cells (neurons).
Apomorphine works to help treat Parkinson's disease by binding to dopamine receptors in the brain and acting like natural dopamine. Low levels of dopamine are thought to cause the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Apomorphine comes in the form of a:
- Subcutaneous injection - an injection that you inject under your skin. This form of the drug is available under the brand name Apokyn and a generic version is also available.
- Sublingual film - a film you put under your tongue. This form of the drug is available under the brand name Kynmobi. Generic versions of a sublingual film have not been approved.
Apomorphine was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2004.
What is apomorphine used for?
Apomorphine injection is a prescription medicine used to treat acute, intermittent episodes of poor mobility called " off " episodes (end-of-dose wearing "off" or unpredictable "on - off" episodes) in people with advanced Parkinson's disease.
Apomorphine sublingual film is a prescription medicine used to treat short-term (acute), intermittent “off” episodes in people with Parkinson's disease.
It is not known if apomorphine is safe and effective in children.
Who should not use apomorphine?
Do not take apomorphine if you are:
- taking certain medicines to treat nausea called 5HT 3 antagonists including, ondansetron, granisetron, dolasetron, palonosetron, and alosetron. People taking ondansetron together with apomorphine have had very low blood pressure and lost consciousness or "blacked out."
- allergic to apomorphine hydrochloride or to any of the ingredients in the injection or sublingual film and experience hives, itching, rash, or swelling (e.g., eyes, tongue, etc.). Apomorphine also contains a sulfite called sodium metabisulfite. Sulfites can cause severe, life-threatening allergic reactions in some people. An allergy to sulfites is not the same as an allergy to sulfa. People with asthma are more likely to be allergic to sulfites. Call your healthcare provider if you have hives, itching, rash, swelling of the eyes, tongue, lips, redness of your face (flushin), throat tightness, chest pain or trouble breathing or swallowing.
See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients apomorphine injection and sublingual film.
What should I tell my doctor before using apomorphine?
Before you start using apomorphine, tell you..
