Apomorphine for Parkinson's disease

About apomorphine

Parkinson's disease is a disorder of the brain. A small part of the brain, called the substantia nigra, is mainly affected. This area of the brain sends messages down nerves to control the muscles of your body. Messages are passed between brain cells, nerves and muscles by chemicals called neurotransmitters. Dopamine is the main neurotransmitter made by the brain cells in the substantia nigra.

If you have Parkinson's disease, some of the cells in the substantia nigra region of your brain will have become damaged. Over time, this happens to more and more cells. As cells are damaged, the amount of dopamine that is produced is reduced. A low level of dopamine in the brain causes the messages that control your muscles to become slowed and abnormal. This produces the typical symptoms of Parkinson's disease: shakiness (tremor), stiffness and slow movement.

Apomorphine is a dopamine-receptor agonist. It is a medicine that acts on the same receptors (tiny areas in the brain) as dopamine. In effect, it acts like a substitute for dopamine. Some people who have Parkinson's disease in its later stages develop a condition where one minute they can move freely and the next minute they find it difficult. This is called an 'on-off effect'. Apomorphine can help to reverse the 'off' episodes, but its effect only lasts for about an hour. As it needs to be given by an injection under the skin, frequent injections are needed. Because of this, it is sometimes given as a continuous infusion, using tubing with a needle at the end (called a cannula) that is inserted under the skin.

Your treatment with apomorphine will be supervised by a doctor who specialises in treating people with Parkinson's disease. The first few doses will be given while you are being looked after in hospital.

Before using apomorphine

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start using apomorphine it is important that your doctor knows:

• If during your 'on' times, you have times when you are unable to move (dystonias) or if you have involuntary movements (dyskinesias).

• If you have any problems with your breathing.

• If you have a heart condition or a blood vessel disorder.

• If you feel dizzy when you stand up, due to low blood pressure.

• If you have any problems with the way your kidneys work, or the way your liver works.

• If you have any mental health problems, such as psychosis or dementia.

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

• If you are taking any other medicines. This includes any medicines you are taking which are available to buy without a prescription, as well as herbal and complementary medicines.

• If you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine.
  

How to use apomorphine

• Always use apomorphine exactly as your doctor tells you to. It is only available as an injection.

• Treatment with apomorphine will be started while you are in hospital or in a specialist clinic. This is because you will need to be supervised closely at first. Your doctor or nurse will administer apomorphine for you to begin with. You will then be taught how to inject apomorphine yourself. It is injected under the skin on your lower abdomen or on the outer part of a thigh, as soon as you begin to feel an 'off' episode.

• Your doctor will tell you how much to use for each injection, and how often to give the injections. It is usual to use 3-30 mg daily, divided into several doses. The maximum dose per injection will be 10 mg, and the maximum dose in any 24-hour period will be 100 mg.

• Before you use an injection, check to make sure that the liquid is clear and doesn't contain any floating 'bits'. Do not use the injection if the solution is cloudy, contains particles or has turned a green colour.

Getting the most from your treatment

• Before you start this treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. The manufacturer's leaflet will give you more information about apomorphine and a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from using it.

• Apomorphine can make you feel sick. Because of this, before you are given your first injection of apomorphine, you will be given at least two days' treatment of an antisickness medicine (usually domperidone). You should continue to take this during the first few weeks of your treatment with apomorphine. It may later be reduced or slowly withdrawn.

• Keep your regular appointments with your doctor so your progress can be monitored. You will need to have regular blood tests and other tests to check that you remain as healthy as possible. Also, apomorphine may cause your blood pressure to fall (particularly in the early days of your treatment) and your doctor will want to check for this. Low blood pressure can make you feel dizzy, especially when moving from a seated to a standing position.

• Occasionally, people using apomorphine have fallen asleep suddenly with little or no warning of feeling tired beforehand. Until you know how you react, do not drive and do not use tools or operate machinery. If you do find yourself falling asleep suddenly, you should see your doctor as soon as possible and avoid driving or using tools and machines in the meantime.

• Treatment with medicines like apomorphine can sometimes cause problems with impulsive types of behaviour. If you notice any changes in your behaviour, such as an increased desire to gamble, binge eat, or spend excessively, or an increased sex drive, you must let your doctor know as soon as possible.

• Each time you collect a new prescription check to make sure you have been given the same injections as you have had before. APO-go® Pen and Dacepton® are for injections which are given intermittently throughout the day, whereas APO-go® PFS are for when apomorphine is being given as a continuous infusion through a syringe driver.

• Stopping any treatment for Parkinson's disease suddenly can cause problems. Do not stop using this medicine without speaking with your doctor first.

• If you are having an operation or any other medical treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are using apomorphine.

Can apomorphine cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with apomorphine. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Important: speak with your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:

• Changes in your behaviour, such as a desire to gamble or an increased sex drive.

• Falling asleep suddenly. (It is important that you do not drive if this affects you.)

How to store apomorphine

• Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.

• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.

• Each APO-go® Pen can be used for up to 48 hours. Do not use any 'opened' pens after this time.

• Discard your used pens, syringes or needles in a 'sharps bin' after use and arrange for safe disposal. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist for advice on local disposal schemes.

Important information about all medicines