HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Correspondence: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Correspondence are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Koller, W. Articles by Stacy, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Koller, W. Articles by Stacy, M.

Neurology supplements are not peer-reviewed. Information contained in Neurology supplements represent the opinions of the authors and are not endorsed by nor do they reflect the views of the American Academy of Neurology, Editor-in-Chief, or Associate Editors of Neurology.

Other formulations and future considerations for apomorphine for subcutaneous injection therapy

From the Department of Neurology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York (Dr. Koller) and the Department of Medicine/Neurology (Dr. Stacy), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. William Koller, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, One Gustave L. Levy Pl., Box 1137, New York, NY 10029.

This manuscript reviews apomorphine administration in formulations other than intermittent bolus injection, and comments on other potential uses for this unique compound. Continuous sc apomorphine therapy has been shown to alter peak-dose dyskinesia thresholds in advancing patients, and in some instances may replace all other anti-parkinson therapies. In general continuous infusion of sc apomorphine at a rate of 4 mg/h is well tolerated, and has been postulated to be equivalent to approximately 600 mg levodopa/day. This therapy is associated with skin complications, particularly nodule formation, and focal panniculitis is seen in more than 50% of subjects. Optimal dosages for intranasal apomorphine range from 2 to 5 mg per inhalation with benefit seen at 7.5 minutes and duration of effect of 45 to 55 minutes. Side effects included nasal irritation, vestibulitis, dyskinesias, yawning, and nausea. Comparison of 3 mg sc and 30 mg sublingual apomorphine in 9 Parkinson’s disease subjects in a blinded cross-over trial found that the time to peak benefit was beyond 40 minutes with sl apomorphine, compared to 21 minutes in the sc preparation. Chronic use of the sublingual formulation was associated with severe stomatitis in half the subjects, and markedly limited the treatment. Rectal administration of apomorphine has been evaluated in limited, usually post-operative settings. Administration of a 200 mg apomorphine rectal suppository resulted in an average time to benefit of 32 minutes with an average duration of 195 minutes. Sedation, nausea and faintness were reported as side effects. Although the diagnostic confirmation potential of this agent has been questioned, the drug may have an important role in evaluating the potential for benefit in the deep brain stimulation surgical setting.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. W. Asimos, W. D. Rosamond, A. M. Johnson, M. F. Price, K. M. Rose, C. V. Murphy, C. H. Tegeler, and A. Felix Early Diffusion Weighted MRI as a Negative Predictor for Disabling Stroke After ABCD2 Score Risk Categorization in Transient Ischemic Attack Patients Stroke, October 1, 2009; 40(10): 3252 - 3257. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Calvet, E. Touze, C. Oppenheim, G. Turc, J.-F. Meder, and J.-L. Mas DWI Lesions and TIA Etiology Improve the Prediction of Stroke After TIA Stroke, January 1, 2009; 40(1): 187 - 192. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. L. Saver Proposal for a Universal Definition of Cerebral Infarction Stroke, November 1, 2008; 39(11): 3110 - 3115. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Oppenheim, C. Lamy, E. Touze, D. Calvet, M. Hamon, J.-L. Mas, and J.-F. Meder Do transient ischemic attacks with diffusion-weighted imaging abnormalities correspond to brain infarctions? AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., September 1, 2006; 27(8): 1782 - 1787. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]