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Apomorphine in patients with Parkinson's disease
D Muguet1, E Broussolle, G Chazot
1Service de Neurologie C, Hôpital Neurologique et Neurochirurgical Pierre Wertheimer, Lyon, France.
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & Pharmacotherapie
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Apomorphine, a potent dopaminergic agonist, effectively manages Parkinson's disease motor symptoms like akinesia, rigidity, and tremor. It is valuable for diagnosis and treating "off" episodes in fluctuating patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor deficits.
- Current treatments like levodopa can lead to motor fluctuations and
- off
- episodes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature and clinical experience with apomorphine in Parkinson's disease.
- To evaluate apomorphine's efficacy, safety, and diagnostic utility in PD management.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature.
- Analysis of personal clinical experience with apomorphine therapy.
- Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic assessment of apomorphine.
Main Results:
- Apomorphine is a potent D1 and D2 dopaminergic agonist with rapid subcutaneous absorption and short duration.
- It effectively alleviates PD motor symptoms (akinesia, rigidity, tremor) and is useful for differential diagnosis.
- Intermittent injections or continuous infusion manage motor fluctuations, while side effects like nausea can be managed with domperidone.
Conclusions:
- Apomorphine is a valuable therapeutic option for managing motor fluctuations in Parkinson's disease.
- Its diagnostic utility in differentiating PD from Parkinson plus syndromes is significant.
- Apomorphine serves as a crucial pharmacological tool for advancing PD research.