How does it work?

Apomorphine is a type of medicine called a dopamine agonist. It mimicks the activity of a substance in the brain called dopamine. Dopamine is a substance known as a neurotransmitter. Neurotransmitters are present in the brain and nervous system and are involved in transmitting messages between nerves. These messages allow the normal functioning of the body. The neurotransmitter dopamine is known to be reduced or absent in the brains of people with Parkinson's disease, and this is thought to be the cause of the disease symptoms. Dopamine normally transmits messages by stimulating specific receptor sites in the brain. Apomorphine works by stimulating these same receptor sites. This produces the same effects as dopamine, and acts as a dopamine substitute. In this way apomorphine helps to restore the dopamine activity in the brain, which helps reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Apomorphine is given by injection and is used to treat Parkinsonian symptoms that have not been controlled by levodopa or other dopamine agonists.

What is it used for?

Parkinson's disease

Warning!

This medicine may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery.

This medicine can occasionally cause your blood pressure to drop when you move from a lying down or sitting position to sitting or standing, especially when you first start taking the medicine. This may make you feel dizzy or unsteady. To avoid this try getting up slowly. If you do feel dizzy, sit or lie down until the symptoms pass.

It is not known whether this medicine can affect a woman's reproductive capacity, hence it is not recommended for use in women of child-bearing age.

It is essential that people being initiated on this medicine are pre-treated with the anti-sickness medicine domperidone, starting usually at least two days prior to starting apomorphine.

Use with caution in

Disease involving the heart and blood vessels

Kidney disease

Lung disease

Neuropsychiatric problems, eg confusion, hallucinations

People prone to nausea and vomiting

People whose blood pressure drops when moving from lying or sitting to standing, causing dizziness (postural hypotension)

Not to be used in

Children and adolescents under 18 years of age

Decreased liver function

Dementia

People with severe difficulty performing voluntary movements (dyskinesia), or abnormal muscle tension (dystonia) while taking levodopa

Slow, shallow breathing (respiratory depression)

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

There is no information available about the safety of this medicine during pregnancy. It is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

It is not known whether this medicine passes into breast milk. Breastfeeding is therefore not recommended whilst taking this medicine. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

A drop in blood pressure that occurs when going from lying down to sitting or standing, which results in dizziness and lightheadedness (postural hypotension)

Confusion

Sedation

Difficulty performing voluntary movements, resulting in jerky or involuntary movements or muscle twitches (dyskinesia)

False perceptions of things that are not really there (hallucinations)

Excessive breakdown of red blood cells that reduces red blood cell count (haemolytic anaemia)

Nausea and vomiting

Pain, swelling, redness and hardening of the skin at the injection site

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Go To Next Page>>
The documents contained in this web site are presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. The materials in this web site cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. Conditions for use



© Copyright 1998 - 2004 NetDoctor.co.uk - All rights reserved