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Apomorphine in the treatment of Parkinson's disease

Hagell, Peter LU and Odin, P (2001) In Journal of Neuroscience Nursing 33(1). p.21-38
Abstract
Apomorphine is a potent, nonselective, direct-acting dopamine-receptor agonist. Given subcutaneously, it has a rapid onset of antiparkinsonian action qualitatively comparable to that of levodopa. Despite its long history, it was not until peripheral dopaminergic side effects could be controlled by oral domperidone that the clinical usefulness of apomorphine in Parkinson's disease began to be investigated thoroughly in the mid-1980s. Although several routes have been tried, subcutaneous administration, either as intermittent injections or continuous infusion, is so far the best and most applied in the treatment of advanced, fluctuating Parkinson's disease. Clinical trials have shown stable efficacy with markedly reduced time spent in "off"... (More)
Apomorphine is a potent, nonselective, direct-acting dopamine-receptor agonist. Given subcutaneously, it has a rapid onset of antiparkinsonian action qualitatively comparable to that of levodopa. Despite its long history, it was not until peripheral dopaminergic side effects could be controlled by oral domperidone that the clinical usefulness of apomorphine in Parkinson's disease began to be investigated thoroughly in the mid-1980s. Although several routes have been tried, subcutaneous administration, either as intermittent injections or continuous infusion, is so far the best and most applied in the treatment of advanced, fluctuating Parkinson's disease. Clinical trials have shown stable efficacy with markedly reduced time spent in "off" phases as well as, for infusion therapy, reduced levodopa requirements. In the most successful cases, motor fluctuations disappear and the need for oral medication is eliminated. Adverse events are usually mild and dominated by cutaneous reactions. Neuropsychiatric side effects occur, but the influence of apomorphine on these remains controversial. Controlled long-term clinical trials are highly warranted to reveal the full potentials of this treatment. Careful patient selection and follow-up, where the specialized movement disorder nurse has a crucial role, are paramount for a successful long-term outcome. Apomorphine warrants a wider application in the treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease and should be tried before more invasive interventions are considered. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Neuroscience Nursing
volume
33
issue
1
pages
21 - 38
publisher
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
external identifiers
  • pmid:11233359
  • scopus:0035259478
ISSN
0888-0395
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Caring Sciences (Closed 2012) (016514020)
id
10487a02-3125-4385-ad93-bb1db9c9af4c (old id 1121934)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:05:48
date last changed
2022-01-26 22:46:16
@article{10487a02-3125-4385-ad93-bb1db9c9af4c,
  abstract     = {{Apomorphine is a potent, nonselective, direct-acting dopamine-receptor agonist. Given subcutaneously, it has a rapid onset of antiparkinsonian action qualitatively comparable to that of levodopa. Despite its long history, it was not until peripheral dopaminergic side effects could be controlled by oral domperidone that the clinical usefulness of apomorphine in Parkinson's disease began to be investigated thoroughly in the mid-1980s. Although several routes have been tried, subcutaneous administration, either as intermittent injections or continuous infusion, is so far the best and most applied in the treatment of advanced, fluctuating Parkinson's disease. Clinical trials have shown stable efficacy with markedly reduced time spent in "off" phases as well as, for infusion therapy, reduced levodopa requirements. In the most successful cases, motor fluctuations disappear and the need for oral medication is eliminated. Adverse events are usually mild and dominated by cutaneous reactions. Neuropsychiatric side effects occur, but the influence of apomorphine on these remains controversial. Controlled long-term clinical trials are highly warranted to reveal the full potentials of this treatment. Careful patient selection and follow-up, where the specialized movement disorder nurse has a crucial role, are paramount for a successful long-term outcome. Apomorphine warrants a wider application in the treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease and should be tried before more invasive interventions are considered.}},
  author       = {{Hagell, Peter and Odin, P}},
  issn         = {{0888-0395}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{21--38}},
  publisher    = {{Lippincott Williams & Wilkins}},
  series       = {{Journal of Neuroscience Nursing}},
  title        = {{Apomorphine in the treatment of Parkinson's disease}},
  volume       = {{33}},
  year         = {{2001}},
}