Apomorphine Side Effects

Brand Names: Apokyn

Please note - some side effects for Apomorphine may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.

Side Effects of Apomorphine - for the Consumer

Apomorphine

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Apomorphine:

Bruising, itching, pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site; dizziness; drowsiness; flushing; headache; nausea; pale skin; runny nose; vomiting; yawning.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); abnormal thinking; agitation; behavior changes (eg, aggression, paranoia); chest, jaw, or left arm pain; confusion; difficulty moving; fainting; falling asleep without warning; falling down; fast or irregular heartbeat; hallucinations; increased sweating; mental or mood changes (eg, depression); new, unusual, or increased urges (eg, gambling, sexual urges); numbness of an arm or leg; painful or prolonged erection; severe dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, or vomiting; severe or persistent headache; shortness of breath; sudden, uncontrollable movements; swelling of the arms, hands, legs, or feet; unusual change in the appearance of a mole or other skin growths; vision changes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

Side Effects by Body System - for Healthcare Professionals

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have included severe nausea (31%) and vomiting (11%) at the recommended doses of apomorphine.

In clinical trials conducted in the USA, patients were treated with trimethobenzamide for 3 days prior to initiation of treatment with apomorphine, and were directed to continue it for at least 6 weeks. The number of patients stopping apomorphine treatment due to nausea was 3% and due to vomiting was 2%.

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects have included syncope (2%). QT and QTc prolongation have been reported in very rare cases. Apomorphine may cause dose-related decreases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Severe orthostatic hypotension, hypotension and/or syncope that resulted in drug withdrawal have been reported in less than 1% of patients in clinical trials.

Psychiatric

Psychiatric side effects have included hallucinations (14%), confusion, paranoid ideation, delusions, disorientation, aggressive behavior, agitation, and delirium. Slowing down of cognitive performance has been reported after apomorphine use in a small number of patients with Parkinson's disease. The mechanism of action is not fully understood.

Other

Other side effects have included falling asleep during activities of daily living. There have been reports in the literature of patients suddenly falling asleep without prior warning, soon after receiving apomorphine subcutaneous injections.

Local

Local side effects have included reactions at the injection site, such as bruising (16%), granuloma (4%), and pruritus (2%).

Other

Drug abuse and dependence have been reported rarely by patients with Parkinson's disease. These cases are characterized by frequent dosing leading to hallucinations, dyskinesia, and abnormal behavior.

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included symptoms resembling neuroleptic malignant syndrome associated with the rapid dose reduction, withdrawal of, or changes in antiparkinsonian therapy. Migraine attacks have been reported to occur following injection of apomorphine in two postmenopausal women who had experienced migraines before menopause several years earlier.

Genitourinary

Genitourinary side effects have included priapism in some patients.

Other

Drug tolerance to apomorphine after long periods of drug treatment has been observed in some studies. The decline in dopaminergic responsiveness was most noticeable with drug administrations set at 2-hour intervals.

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