Last reviewed 2026-04-20 · How we verify

Apokyn (APOMORPHINE)

Apokyn (apomorphine) is a small molecule dopaminergic agonist that targets the D(2) dopamine receptor. It was originally developed by US WorldMeds and is now owned by Mdd US. Apokyn is FDA-approved for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and has a short half-life of 0.68 hours with low bioavailability of 10%. The drug is off-patent and has a generic manufacturer. Key safety considerations include its potential for inducing hypotension and hallucinations.

At a glance

Approved indications

• Parkinson's disease

Common side effects

• Infusion site nodule
• Nausea
• Infusion site erythema
• Somnolence
• Dyskinesia
• Headache
• Insomnia

Serious adverse events

• Hallucinations
• Psychotic disorder
• Impulse control disorder
• Infusion site infections
• Prolonged QT interval
• Orthostatic intolerance
• Visual hallucination
• Gait disturbance
• Hypotension
• Hemolytic anemia

Drug interactions

• High Risk QT Prolonging Agents

Key clinical trials

• Interest of Continuous Subcutaneous Apomorphine in Parkinsonian Patients at the End of Life
• Effectiveness of Percutaneous Neuromodulation vs Pharmacological Treatment in Cancer Patients With Anterior Knee Pain (NA)
• SAD Study in Patients With Parkinson's Disease and Motor Fluctuations (PHASE1)
• Clinical Trial of Intranasal Delivery of NT-301 (PHASE1)
• Blinking and Yawning in Epilepsy: The Role of Dopamine (NA)
• Optimistic and Pessimistic Dopamine Signals in the Human Brain: a Mapping and Modelling Study in Health and Parkinson's Disease
• SL-START - SubLingual Apomorphine Schemes of TitrAtion in Real-world Treatment
• Real-World Patient Experiences Using Continuous Subcutaneous Apomorphine Infusion (ONAPGOTM) in the United States:

Primary sources

Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.