Apomorphine
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Dosing in kidney impairment
Dosing in Patients with Renal Impairment For patients with mild and moderate renal impairment, the test dose and starting dose should be reduced to 0.1 mL (1 mg) [see Clinical Pharmacology and Use in Specific Populations ] .
Dosing in liver impairment
Hepatic Impairment Caution should be exercised when administrating apomorphine hydrocloride to patients with mild and moderate hepatic impairment because of the increased C max and AUC in these patients. Closely monitor patients with mild and moderate hepatic impairment. Studies of subjects with severe hepatic impairment have not been conducted [see Clinical Pharmacology ] .
Preparation and administration
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Important Administration Instructions Apomorphine hydrocloride is indicated for subcutaneous administration only [see Warnings and Precautions ] and only by a multiple-dose APOKYN ® Pen with supplied cartridges. The APOKYN ® Pen is supplied separately by a different manufacturer. The initial dose and dose titrations should be performed by a healthcare provider.
Blood pressure and pulse should be measured in the supine and standing position before and after dosing. A caregiver or patient may administer apomorphine hydrocloride if a healthcare provider determines that it is appropriate. Instruct patients to follow the directions provided in the Patients Instructions For Use. Because the APOKYN ® Pen has markings in milliliters (mL), the prescribed dose of apomorphine hydrocloride should be expressed in mL to avoid confusion.
Visually inspect the apomorphine hydrocloride drug product through the viewing window for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration. The solution should not be used if discolored (it should be colorless), or cloudy, or if foreign particles are present. Rotate the injection site and use proper aseptic technique [see How Supplied/Storage and Handling and Patient Counseling Information ] .
Drug interactions
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Concomitant use of antihypertensive medications and vasodilators: increased risk for hypotension, myocardial infarction, pneumonia, falls, and injuries ( 7.2 ) Dopamine antagonists such as neuroleptics or metoclopramide, may diminish the effectiveness of apomorphine hydrocloride ( 7.4 ) 7.1 5HT 3 Antagonists Based on reports of profound hypotension and loss of consciousness when apomorphine hydrocloride was administered with ondansetron, the concomitant use of apomorphine hydrocloride with 5HT 3 antagonists including antiemetics (for example, ondansetron, granisetron, dolasetron, palonosetron) and alosetron, is contraindicated.
7.2 Antihypertensive Medications and Vasodilators In clinical studies, the following adverse events were experienced more commonly in patients receiving concomitant antihypertensive medications or vasodilators (n=94) than in patients not receiving these medications (n=456): hypotension (10% vs 4%) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] , myocardial infarction (3% vs 1%), serious pneumonia (5% vs 3%), serious falls (9% vs 3%), and bone and joint injuries (6% vs 2%). Some of the events may be related to the increased incidence of hypotension in patients receiving concomitant antihypertensive medications or vasodilators [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4 , 5.5) ] .
Concomitant administration of 0.4 mg sublingual nitroglycerin with apomorphine hydrocloride in healthy subjects causes greater decreases in blood pressure compared to apomorphine hydrocloride alone. When nitroglycerin and apomorphine hydrocloride were concomitantly administered to healthy subjects, the mean largest decrease (the mean of each subject's largest drop in blood pressure measured within the 6-hour period following administration of apomorphine hydrocloride) in supine systolic and diastolic blood pressure (measured over 6 hours) was 9.7 mm Hg and 9.3 mm Hg, respectively [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].
The mean largest decrease in standing systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 14.3 mm Hg and 13.5 mm Hg, respectively. Some individuals experienced very large decreases in standing systolic and diastolic blood pressure, up to a maximum decrease of 65 mm Hg and 43 mm Hg, respectively. In comparison, the mean largest decrease in supine systolic and diastolic blood pressure when apomorphine hydrocloride was administered alone was 6.1 mm Hg and 7.3 mm Hg, respectively, and in standing systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 6.7 mm Hg and 8.4 mm Hg, respectively.
Patients taking apomorphine hydrocloride should lie down before and after taking sublingual nitroglycerin [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ].
7.3 Alcohol Concomitant administration of high dose (0.6 g/kg) or low dose (0.3 g/kg) ethanol with apomorphine hydrocloride in healthy subjects causes greater decreases in blood pressure compared to apomorphine hydrocloride alone. When high dose ethanol and apomorphine hydrocloride were concomitantly administered to healthy subjects, the mean largest decrease (the mean of each subject's largest drop in blood pressure measured within the 6-hour period following administration of apomorphine hydrocloride) for supine systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 9.1 mm Hg and 10.5 mm Hg, respectively [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].
The mean largest standing systolic and diastolic blood pressure decrease was 11.3 mm Hg and 12.6 mm Hg, respectively. In some individuals, the decrease was as high as 61 mm Hg and 51 mm Hg, respectively, for standing systolic and diastolic blood pressure. When low dose ethanol and apomorphine hydrocloride were concomitantly administered, the mean largest decrease in supine systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 10.2 mm Hg and 9.9 mm Hg, respectively. The mean largest decrease in standing systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 8.4 mm Hg and 7.1 mm Hg, respectively.
In comparison, the mean largest decrease in supine systolic and diastolic blood pressure when apomorphine hydrocloride was administered alone was 6.1 mm Hg and 7.3 mm Hg, respectively, and in standing systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 6.7 mm Hg 8.4 mm Hg, respectively. Patients should avoid drinking alcohol after using apomorphine hydrocloride [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ].
7.4 Dopamine Antagonists Since apomorphine hydrocloride is a dopamine agonist, it is possible that concomitant use of dopamine antagonists, such as the neuroleptics (phenothiazines, butyrophenones, thioxanthenes) or metoclopramide, may diminish the effectiveness of apomorphine hydrocloride. Patients with major psychotic disorders, treated with neuroleptics, should be treated with dopamine agonists only if the potential benefits outweigh the risks.
7.5 Drugs Prolonging the QT/QTc Interval Caution should be exercised when prescribing apomorphine hydrocloride concomitantly with drugs that prolong the QT/QTc interval [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10) ] .
Contraindications
Apomorphine hydrocloride is contraindicated in patients: Using concomitant drugs of the 5HT 3 antagonist class including antiemetics (e.g., ondansetron, granisetron, dolasetron, palonosetron) and alosetron [see Drug Interactions (7.1) ] . There have been reports of profound hypotension and loss of consciousness when apomorphine hydrocloride was administered with ondansetron. With hypersensitivity/allergic reaction to apomorphine or to any of the excipients of apomorphine hydrocloride, including a sulfite (i.e., sodium metabisulfite). Angioedema or anaphylaxis may occur [see Warnings and Precautions (5.12) ].
Concomitant use of apomorphine hydrocloride with 5HT 3 antagonists, including antiemetics (e.g., ondansetron, granisetron, dolasetron, palonosetron) and alosetron, is contraindicated ( 4 ) Hypersensitivity to apomorphine, its excipients or sodium metabisulfite ( 4 , 5.12 )
Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no adequate data on the developmental risk associated with use of apomorphine hydrocloride in pregnant women. In animal reproduction studies, apomorphine had adverse developmental effects in rats (increased neonatal deaths) and rabbits (increased incidence of malformation) when administered during pregnancy at clinically relevant doses. These doses were also associated with maternal toxicity [see Data ] . In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.
The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. Data Animal Data No adverse developmental effects were observed when apomorphine (0.3, 1, or 3 mg/kg/day) was administered by subcutaneous injection to pregnant rats throughout organogenesis; the highest dose tested is 1.5 times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 20 mg/day on a mg/m 2 basis.
Administration of apomorphine (0.3, 1, or 3 mg/kg/day) by subcutaneous injection to pregnant rabbits throughout organogenesis resulted in an increased incidence of malformations of the heart and/or great vessels at the mid and high doses; maternal toxicity was observed at the highest dose tested. The no-effect dose for adverse developmental effects is less than the MRHD on a mg/m 2 basis. Apomorphine (0.3, 1, or 3 mg/kg/day), administered by subcutaneous injection to females throughout gestation and lactation, resulted in increased offspring mortality at the highest dose tested, which was associated with maternal toxicity.
There were no effects on developmental parameters or reproductive performance in surviving offspring. The no-effect dose for developmental toxicity (1 mg/kg/day) is less than the MRHD on a mg/m 2 basis.
For breastfeeding, also see LactMed (National Library of Medicine), which summarizes milk levels and infant effects.
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