Apomorphine
Apomorphine
Apomorphine (/ˌæpəˈmɔːrfiːn/) is a type of dopamine agonist that is primarily used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. It is a derivative of morphine and is chemically classified as a phenanthrene alkaloid.
Etymology
The term "apomorphine" is derived from the Greek words "apo", meaning "away from", and "morphine", referring to the drug from which it is derived. It was named as such because it was originally thought to be a less addictive form of morphine, although this has since been disproven.
Usage
Apomorphine is used to manage the motor fluctuations in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. It is particularly effective in treating "off" episodes, periods when the patient's regular levodopa medication is not working well and they experience increased difficulty with movement.
Related Terms
- Dopamine: A type of neurotransmitter, or chemical messenger, in the brain. Dopamine agonists like apomorphine work by mimicking the effects of dopamine in the brain.
- Parkinson's disease: A neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the death of dopamine-producing cells in the brain. Symptoms include tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination.
- Levodopa: A medication commonly used to treat Parkinson's disease. It is converted into dopamine in the brain.
- Morphine: A powerful opioid pain medication. Apomorphine is a derivative of morphine.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Apomorphine
- Wikipedia's article - Apomorphine
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski