Apomorphine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Apomorphine is a medicine sold in the U.S. under 3 brand and generic names, for parkinson disease. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Treats (across its forms)
- Parkinson Disease
- Available as
- Injectable · Film
- Sold as
- 3 products — Apokyn, Kynmobi and Onapgo
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Not in our catalog
How Onapgo is dosed
From the FDA label for Onapgo (application NDA214056). Other apomorphine products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
For subcutaneous use by infusion only. ( 2.1 ) Maximum recommended total daily dosage of ONAPGO, including the continuous dosage and any extra dose(s), is 98 mg generally administered over the waking day (e.g., 16 hours). ( 2.3 ) The recommended initial continuous dosage is 1 mg/hr with a maximum of 6 mg/hr for up to 16 hours per day. ( 2.3 ) For patients who require an extra dose, initiate the first extra dose at 0.5 mg. Subsequent extra doses may be titrated in increments of 0.1 mg to 1 mg, based on clinical response and tolerability. The maximum extra dose is 2 mg. Administer with at least 3 hours between extra doses and a maximum of 3 extra doses per day. ( 2.3 ) Treatment with trimethobenzamide is recommended, starting 3 days prior to the first dose of ONAPGO, and should only be continued as long as necessary to control nausea and vomiting, and generally no longer than two months. ( 2.2 , 5.2 , 6.1 , 17 ) ONAPGO is not substitutable for apomorphine products intended for intermittent use. ( 2.3 ) For patients with mild or moderate renal impairment, the recommended initial extra dose is 0.5 mg to 1 mg and should not exceed 1 mg. ( 2.5 ) 2.1 Important Information ONAPGO is indicated for subcutaneous use by infusion only [see Warnings & Precautions (5.1) ] . Patients selected for treatment with ONAPGO should be capable of understanding and trained on using the delivery…
Everything below is the FDA label for Onapgo (injectable). Apomorphine is also sold as film, and those are different medicines to take — follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Onapgo side effects
The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Serious Adverse Reactions After Intravenous Administration [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Nausea and Vomiting [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Falling Asleep During Activities of Daily Living and Somnolence [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Syncope/Hypotension/Orthostatic Hypotension [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Falls [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Infusion Site Reactions and Infections [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] Hallucinations/Psychotic-Like Behavior [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] Dyskinesia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] Hemolytic Anemia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ] Impulse Control/Compulsive Behaviors [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10) ] Cardiac Events [see Warnings and Precautions (5.11) ] QTc Prolongation and Potential for Proarrhythmic Effects [see Warnings and Precautions (5.12) ] Hypersensitivity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.13) ] Fibrotic Complications [see Warnings and Precautions (5.14) ] Priapism [see Warnings and Precautions (5.15) ] Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥10% on ONAPGO and at least twice the rate of placebo) were infusion site nodule, nausea, somnolence, infusion site erythema, dyskinesia, headache, and insomnia. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact MDD US…
Who shouldn’t take Onapgo
ONAPGO is contraindicated in patients: Using concomitant 5HT 3 antagonists, 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 was administered with ondansetron. With hypersensitivity/allergic reaction to apomorphine or any of the excipients of ONAPGO, including sulfite (i.e., sodium metabisulfite). Angioedema or anaphylaxis may occur [see Warnings and Precautions (5.13) ]. Concomitant use of ONAPGO with 5HT 3 antagonists, including antiemetics (e.g., ondansetron, granisetron, dolasetron, palonosetron) and alosetron. ( 4 , 7.1 ) Hypersensitivity to apomorphine or the excipients of ONAPGO, including sulfite (i.e., sodium metabisulfite). ( 4 , 5.13 )
Onapgo drug interactions
Concomitant use of antihypertensive medications and vasodilators: increased risk for hypotension, falls, and injuries. ( 7.2 ) Dopamine antagonists, such as neuroleptics or metoclopramide, may diminish the effectiveness of ONAPGO. ( 7.4 ) 7.1 5HT 3 Antagonists Based on reports of profound hypotension and loss of consciousness when apomorphine was administered with ondansetron, the concomitant use of ONAPGO with 5HT 3 antagonists, including antiemetics (e.g., ondansetron, granisetron, palonosetron) and alosetron, is contraindicated [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ]. 7.2 Antihypertensive Medications and Vasodilators In clinical studies with intermittent subcutaneous administration of apomorphine, the following adverse reactions 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%), myocardial infarction (3% vs 1%), [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4 , 5.11) ]. In a study of healthy subjects, concomitant administration of 0.4 mg sublingual nitroglycerin with subcutaneous apomorphine caused greater decreases in blood pressure than with subcutaneous apomorphine alone [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. Patients treated with ONAPGO should lie down before and after taking sublingual nitroglycerin to decrease the potential risks associated with hypotension . 7.3 Alcohol In a study of healthy subjects, concomitant administration of high dose (0.6 g/kg) or low dose (0.3 g/kg) ethanol with apomorphine caused greater decreases in blood pressure than with apomorphine alone [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Patients should be advised not to consume alcohol while treated with ONAPGO because it may cause greater decreases in blood pressure [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] . 7.4 Dopamine Antagonists Because ONAPGO 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 ONAPGO. Antiemetics with anti-dopaminergic actions should be avoided [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ]. Patients with major psychotic disorders, treated with neuroleptics, should be treated with dopamine agonists only if the potential benefits outweigh the risks [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ]. 7.5 Drugs Prolonging the QT/QTc Interval Caution should be exercised when prescribing ONAPGO concomitantly with drugs that prolong the QT/QTc interval [see Warnings and Precautions (5.12) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.2) ] .
Every apomorphine product we track (3)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Injectable | No data | — | View → | |
| 2 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Film | No data | — | View → | |
| 3 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Injectable | No data | — | View → |
How long apomorphine keeps
No apomorphine label we read sets a separate limit for after opening, but they do specify how it must be stored — and the stability behind any date assumes those conditions.
Does apomorphine expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labelsApomorphine and breastfeeding
From LactMed, the US National Library of Medicine’s Drugs and Lactation Database — quoted, not rewritten.
Full LactMed record for apomorphine: levels in milk, effects in breastfed infants, and the drugs it would consider insteadNo information is available on the use of apomorphine during breastfeeding. If apomorphine is required by the mother, it is not a reason to discontinue breastfeeding. However, apomorphine inhibits prolactin release in animals and might interfere with establishment of lactation. An alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, record revised July 18, 2022. LactMed states its information is not a substitute for professional judgement.
What people report to the FDA about apomorphine
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 1,161 reports naming apomorphine, and the FDA flagged 98% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- hypotension88 reports
- fall71 reports
- speech disorder63 reports
- dyskinesia62 reports
- hallucination60 reports
- injection site nodule60 reports
- gait disturbance59 reports
- cerebral hypoperfusion55 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean apomorphine caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved July 25, 2026.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is Onapgo?
Onapgo (Apomorphine Hydrochloride) is a medication used to treat Parkinson Disease.
Can you take apomorphine with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run apomorphine against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is apomorphine sold under?
We track 3 apomorphine-containing products in the U.S.: Apokyn, Kynmobi and Onapgo. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does apomorphine come in?
Across the brands we track, apomorphine is currently marketed as injectable and film, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic apomorphine?
We do not currently list a generic-labelled apomorphine product. That does not always mean none exists — it means none appears under a generic name in the FDA data we track. Ask your pharmacist.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Apomorphine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/apomorphine
- MLA
- “Apomorphine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/apomorphine.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for apomorphine on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.