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Subcutaneous Apomorphine

An Evidence-Based Review of its Use in Parkinson’s Disease

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Abstract

Apomorphine, a short-acting dopamine D1 and D2 receptor agonist, was the first dopamine receptor agonist used to treat Parkinson’s disease. Subcutaneous apomorphine is currently used for the management of sudden, unexpected and refractory levodopa-induced ‘off’ states in fluctuating Parkinson’s disease either as intermittent rescue injections or continuous infusions. Other indications include the challenge test for determining the dopaminergic responsiveness and finding the appropriate dose of the drug in intermittent subcutaneous administration.

Except for a rapid on- and offset of the antiparkinsonian response with subcutaneous apomorphine, the magnitude and pattern of the motor response to single dose of subcutaneously administered apomorphine is qualitatively comparable to that of oral levodopa. Seventy-five percent of patients achieve a clinically significant improvement with a dose of apomorphine 4mg.

The efficacy of intermittent subcutaneous apomorphine injections as an add-on to levodopa therapy in advanced Parkinson’s disease was explored in one short-term, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, one short-term and six long-term, open-label, uncontrolled studies, including a total of 195 patients. These studies provide evidence that this mode of administration was successful in aborting ‘off’ periods and improving Parkinson’s disease motor scores, but tended to increase dyskinesias. No levodopa-sparing effect was observed.

Eleven long-term, open-label, uncontrolled studies, including a total of 233 patients evaluated the efficacy of continuous subcutaneous apomorphine infusions in monotherapy or as an add-on to levodopa therapy in advanced Parkinson’s disease. These studies proved that subcutaneous apomorphine infusions are successful in aborting ‘off’ periods, reducing dyskinesias and improving Parkinson’s disease motor scores with the added benefit of a substantial levodopa-sparing effect.

The apomorphine challenge test has at least 80% overall predictive ability to clinically diagnose Parkinson’s disease across the different stages of the disease and parkinsonian syndromes. Similarly, those data also indicate that the apomorphine challenge test has a >80% ability to predict dopaminergic responsiveness across all stages of Parkinson’s disease.

Adverse events are usually mild and consist predominantly of cutaneous reactions and neuropsychiatric adverse effects. The incidence of adverse effects is higher in patients receiving continuous infusion than in those receiving intermittent pulsatile administration.

Based on the results of these studies it is recommended that subcutaneous apomorphine either as intermittent injections or continuous infusions should be offered to any suitable Parkinson’s disease patient who has difficulties in his/her management with conventional therapy. Low-dose levodopa therapy in combination with waking-day hours subcutaneous apomorphine infusion would probably be the most efficient treatment. Continuous subcutaneous apomorphine infusions should be evaluated before more invasive measures or neurosurgical interventions are contemplated.

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Acknowledgements

No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this review. The authors have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology (Medicine), Hamad Medical Corporation, PO Box 3050, Doha, State of Qatar

    Dirk Deleu

  2. Department of Pharmacy, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, State of Qatar

    Yolande Hanssens

  3. Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Sultan Qaboos University, Al Khod, Sultanate of Oman

    Margaret G. Northway

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  1. Dirk Deleu
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  2. Yolande Hanssens
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  3. Margaret G. Northway
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Correspondence to Dirk Deleu.

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Deleu, D., Hanssens, Y. & Northway, M.G. Subcutaneous Apomorphine. Drugs Aging 21, 687–709 (2004). https://doi.org/10.2165/00002512-200421110-00001

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