Tablet apo
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers for "tablet apo"
Consensus Meter
Sublingual Apomorphine Tablet for Parkinson's Disease: Efficacy and Tolerability
Introduction to Apomorphine (APO) Tablets
Apomorphine (APO) is a medication used to manage motor fluctuations in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. A novel sublingual preparation of apomorphine hydrochloride tablets has been tested to evaluate its effectiveness and tolerability in such patients.
Efficacy of Sublingual Apomorphine Tablets
Improvement in Motor Function
In a study involving 10 patients with advanced Parkinson's disease, the sublingual apomorphine tablet demonstrated significant improvements in motor function. Patients who took 40 mg of APO three times per day or 20 mg six times per day showed faster tapping speeds compared to when they were only on levodopa (p < 0.05). This indicates that APO can effectively enhance motor performance in patients experiencing motor fluctuations.
Reduction in Levodopa Dosage
The introduction of APO also led to a substantial reduction in the daily levodopa dose by 32.1% (p < 0.01). This reduction is significant as it suggests that APO can help manage symptoms with a lower dependency on levodopa, potentially reducing the side effects associated with long-term levodopa use.
Increased "On" Time
Patients experienced an increase in their total "on" time from 73.5% ± 10.2% to 81.5% ± 7.5% of the day (p < 0.01) after starting APO. "On" time refers to periods when the medication is effectively managing symptoms, allowing patients to perform daily activities with fewer interruptions from motor symptoms.
Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) Scores
The study also reported improvements in UPDRS part II (activities of daily living) and part III (motor examination) scores while patients were "on" APO (p < 0.05 for both). These scores are critical indicators of the overall impact of the medication on the patient's quality of life and motor abilities.
Tolerability and Adverse Events
Adverse Events
The study noted some adverse events, including nausea, orthostatic hypotension, and a disagreeable taste. However, these side effects did not limit the dose of APO in any of the patients. This suggests that while there are some tolerability issues, they are manageable and do not significantly hinder the use of APO.
Conclusion
The sublingual apomorphine tablet shows promise as an effective treatment for managing motor fluctuations in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. It improves motor function, reduces the need for levodopa, increases "on" time, and enhances UPDRS scores. Although some adverse events were reported, they did not limit the use of the medication, indicating good overall tolerability. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings and explore the long-term benefits and safety of this novel APO preparation.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic