What is Apokyn: Uses, Warnings & Interactions

How to take Apokyn

• Injection routeYour doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given as a shot under your skin.

• Injection routeA nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.

• Injection routeYou may be taught how to give your medicine at home. Make sure you understand all instructions before giving yourself an injection. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.

• Injection routeYou will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas.

• Check the liquid in the pen. It should be clear or colorless. Do not use the medicine if it is cloudy, discolored, or has particles in it.

• Do not get the liquid in the cartridge on your skin or into your eyes. Rinse it off with water right away if it does get in these areas.

• You must prime the pen before using it. To prime:Set the dose knob of the pen to 0.1 milliliter (mL) to get rid of any air bubbles.Remove the inner needle shield. Do not let the needle touch anything.Point the needle up and firmly push the injection button. Hold it for at least 5 seconds. A small stream of medicine must come out of the end of the needle. If there is none, repeat the steps until medicine comes out of the needle.This medicine can stain fabric and other surfaces. Be careful where you prime it.

• Your doctor may also give you other medicines (including trimethobenzamide) 3 days before starting this medicine and for up to 2 months to prevent nausea and vomiting.

• Injection routeUse a new needle and syringe each time you inject your medicine.

• Read and follow the patient instructions that come with this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

• Missed dose: Injection routeCall your doctor or pharmacist for instructions. Do not inject another dose of this medicine less than 2 hours after the last dose.

• Injection routeIf you store this medicine at home, keep it at room temperature, away from heat and direct light.

• Injection routeThrow away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.

• Check the liquid in the pen. It should be clear or colorless. Do not use the medicine if it is cloudy, discolored, or has particles in it.

• Injection routeA nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.

• Injection routeYour doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given as a shot under your skin.

• Your doctor may also give you other medicines (including trimethobenzamide) 3 days before starting this medicine and for up to 2 months to prevent nausea and vomiting.

• Injection routeUse a new needle and syringe each time you inject your medicine.

• Injection routeYou will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas.

• You must prime the pen before using it. To prime:Set the dose knob of the pen to 0.1 milliliter (mL) to get rid of any air bubbles.Remove the inner needle shield. Do not let the needle touch anything.Point the needle up and firmly push the injection button. Hold it for at least 5 seconds. A small stream of medicine must come out of the end of the needle. If there is none, repeat the steps until medicine comes out of the needle.This medicine can stain fabric and other surfaces. Be careful where you prime it.

• Read and follow the patient instructions that come with this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

• Missed dose: Injection routeCall your doctor or pharmacist for instructions. Do not inject another dose of this medicine less than 2 hours after the last dose.

• Injection routeIf you store this medicine at home, keep it at room temperature, away from heat and direct light.

• Injection routeThrow away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.

• Do not get the liquid in the cartridge on your skin or into your eyes. Rinse it off with water right away if it does get in these areas.

• Injection routeYou may be taught how to give your medicine at home. Make sure you understand all instructions before giving yourself an injection. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.

What to do if you miss a dose of Apokyn

Apokyn contraindications

• This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to apomorphine or to sulfites.

Apokyn warnings

• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, heart or blood vessel disease, heart rhythm problems, mental illness, low blood pressure, asthma, sleeping problems, or an allergy to sulfa medicines.

• This medicine may cause the following problems:Changes in mood or behavior, including hallucinationsNew or worsening dyskinesia (trouble controlling movements)Unusual changes in thoughts or behavior, including an urge to gamble or spend money or an increased sex driveIncreased risk of heart rhythm problems, chest pain, or heart attackFibrotic problems (tissue changes in the pelvis, lungs, and heart valves)Prolonged or painful erection (in males)

• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy, or cause trouble with controlling body movements, which may lead to falls. It may also cause you to fall asleep without warning. This could happen while you are driving, eating, or talking. Tell your doctor right away if this happens. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. Standing up slowly from a sitting or lying position can help prevent getting dizzy.

• Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.

• Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse.

• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

Apokyn interactions

• Do not take this medicine together with alosetron, dolasetron, granisetron, ondansetron, or palonosetron.

• Some medicines can affect how apomorphine works. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following: Carbidopa/levodopa, metoclopramideBlood pressure medicine (including atenolol, lisinopril, metoprolol, nitroglycerin)Diuretic (water pill)Medicine to treat mental illness (including flupenthixol, haloperidol, phenothiazine)

• Tell your doctor if you use anything else that makes you sleepy. Some examples are allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, and alcohol.

• Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.

• Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.

• Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse.

• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.