In acquiring Vernalis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in 2008, Ipsen brought into its portfolio APOKYN®, the first and only prescription medicine that reverses off-episode motor symptoms associated with advancing Parkinson's Disease (PD).

Tercica, Inc., an affiliate of the Ipsen Group, distributes and promotes APOKYN in the United States. APOKYN was approved for use in the United States in 2004.  When used during an off episode, APOKYN may enable a person with PD to walk, talk, or move around more easily, within just 20 minutes.

Important Safety Information for Patients and Care Partners

You should not take APOKYN if you are allergic to APOKYN or its ingredients, notably the sulfite called metabisulfite.  Do not take APOKYN if you are being treated with certain drugs called 5HT₃ antagonists (such as Anzemet®*, Kytril®, and Zofran®) that are used for nausea and vomiting or irritable bowl syndrome. People taking this type of drug with apomorphine had severely low blood pressure and "blacked out".

APOKYN must be injected just under the skin and not into a vein.

Your doctor may prescribe a medicine called Tigan®^§ to help prevent nausea and vomiting.  Some patients can stop taking Tigan after using APOKYN for some time.  Some patients may need to continue taking Tigan to help prevent nausea and vomiting.  Talk to your doctor before you stop taking Tigan.

If you experience shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, or chest pain while taking APOKYN, you should call a doctor right away.

APOKYN may lower blood pressure and cause dizziness and fainting, especially when starting treatment or if the dose is increased.  Patients should not get up too fast from sitting or after lying down to minimize these problems.

Some patients taking APOKYN may get sleepy during the day or fall asleep without warning doing everyday activities.  Until it is known how APOKYN affects your ability to stay alert, you should not drive a car or operate machinery.

Some patients may notice soreness, redness, bruising, or itching at the injection site.  Changing the injection site with each injection and putting ice on the site before and after the injection may lessen these effects.

The most common side effect seen in clinical studies with APOKYN were: yawning; sudden uncontrolled movements; nausea and/or vomiting; sleepiness; dizziness; runny nose; seeing and hearing things that are not real; swelling of hands, arms, legs, and feet; chest pain; increased sweating; flushing; and unusually pale complexion.

Please see Full Prescribing Information

* Anzemet® (dolasetron mesylate) is a registered trademark of Sanofi-Aventis.

Kytril® (granisetron HCI) is a registered trademark of Roche Laboratories.

Zofran® (ondansetron HCI) is a registered trademark of GlaxoSmithKline.

§ Tigan® (trimethobenzamide HCI) is a registered trademark of Monarch Pharmaceuticals, Inc.