What Is Apomorphine? How It Works for ED & Side Effects

Apomorphine is a medication that acts on dopamine receptors in the brain, the same pathways involved in sexual motivation and arousal. Unlike ED medications that work on blood flow, it works earlier in the process, where desire and arousal begin.

When people think about erectile dysfunction treatments, they often focus on blood flow. Circulation matters, but it's only one piece of the puzzle. Sexual desire and arousal start in the brain, and when stress or performance anxiety gets in the way, better blood flow alone may not be enough.

That's where apomorphine comes in. It's been studied as a treatment for ED, especially when psychological factors play a role, and it's one of the four ingredients in BlueChew GOLD.

• Apomorphine is a dopamine receptor agonist that acts in the brain.
• It works differently from ED medications that focus on blood flow, like PDE5 inhibitors.
• Research suggests it may help support sexual desire, arousal, and erections in some men, particularly with psychogenic ED.
• Its most common side effects are nausea, dizziness, and yawning, and it can lower blood pressure.
• BlueChew GOLD includes 2–4 mg of apomorphine depending on strength, alongside sildenafil, tadalafil, and oxytocin.

Apomorphine stimulates dopamine receptors in the brain, particularly D1 and D2 receptors, which play an important role in motivation, reward, and sexual behavior.

It's best known as a treatment for Parkinson's disease, where it helps restore dopamine signaling. Because the same dopamine pathways are closely linked to sexual arousal and motivation, researchers began studying whether it could also help with sexual function.

Apomorphine is a non-selective dopamine receptor agonist, meaning it stimulates dopamine receptors that influence both movement and the brain's reward pathways. Despite its name, it isn't related to morphine and isn't an opioid.

Sexual arousal involves the brain, nerves, hormones, and blood vessels working together. That's the process behind erections.

While sildenafil and tadalafil improve blood flow to the penis, apomorphine works earlier in the sexual response, within the brain itself. By activating dopamine receptors in areas involved in sexual behavior, it may help:

• Increase sexual motivation
• Strengthen arousal signals
• Improve communication between the brain and the spinal cord centers that control erections

In other words, apomorphine may help trigger the mental signals that start sexual response, rather than only supporting the physical erection that follows.

Sublingual Apomorphine for Erectile Dysfunction

Early research looked at sublingual apomorphine tablets, which dissolve under the tongue. Researchers found that doses of 2–4 mg significantly increased erections firm enough for intercourse compared with placebo, often within about 20 minutes.

Researchers noted that apomorphine may be especially helpful for psychogenic erectile dysfunction, where psychological factors play a role.

Dopamine and Sexual Motivation

A review of dopamine's role in sexual function highlighted how dopamine receptors help regulate sexual desire, arousal, and erections. That helps explain why medications that stimulate dopamine receptors may influence sexual response.

Brain Pathways Involved in Arousal

Neuroscience research has shown that dopamine signaling in the hypothalamus and limbic system helps regulate sexual arousal. This brain-body connection is one reason some treatments combine ingredients that act on the brain with ingredients that act on blood vessels.

BlueChew GOLD combines four ingredients to support different parts of sexual function:

• Sildenafil: supports erections by increasing blood flow
• Tadalafil: extends the window to up to 36 hours
• Apomorphine: supports sexual motivation and arousal in the brain
• Oxytocin: associated with bonding and intimacy

While sildenafil and tadalafil focus on circulation, apomorphine targets the dopamine pathways involved in sexual motivation. For men whose ED is tied to performance anxiety or low desire, that may help bridge the gap between desire and physical response. Here's how GOLD bridges psychogenic and physical ED.

How Much Apomorphine Is in GOLD?

GOLD comes in three strengths, each with a different amount of apomorphine, in line with the 2–4 mg range studied for ED:

GOLD is a sublingual tablet that typically starts working within 15–30 minutes. Take it 15–30 minutes before sexual activity.

Like any prescription medication, apomorphine can cause side effects. They're most likely the first time you take it or after a dose increase.

Common side effects:

• Nausea
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Yawning or drowsiness
• Sweating
• Headache

Less common but more serious: fainting or a sudden drop in blood pressure, especially when standing up quickly. If you feel faint, sit or lie down right away. Get emergency care for chest pain, fainting, or an erection lasting more than 4 hours.

Safety considerations:

• Apomorphine can lower blood pressure, and so can the sildenafil and tadalafil in GOLD. Tell your provider if you've ever had low blood pressure, fainting, or dizziness when standing.
• Don't take GOLD if you use nitrates for chest pain or guanylate cyclase stimulators like riociguat.
• Limit alcohol, which can make dizziness worse.
• Share every medication you take in your intake, including blood pressure medications and anti-nausea medications.

New to GOLD? Here's what to expect your first time. For the full list, see our guide to BlueChew side effects. 

Sexual function depends on several systems working together: brain signaling, hormones, nerve pathways, and blood circulation. When any part is disrupted, whether by stress, anxiety, or relationship dynamics, sexual performance can suffer. Erectile problems can be physical, psychological, or both.

By acting on dopamine pathways in the brain, apomorphine addresses a part of sexual health that blood-flow medications don't.

Apomorphine takes a different approach to erectile dysfunction. Instead of focusing only on circulation, it acts on dopamine pathways in the brain that play a key role in sexual motivation and arousal.

Research suggests sublingual apomorphine may improve erections in some men, particularly when psychological factors are involved. 

In GOLD, it's paired with sildenafil, tadalafil, and oxytocin to address both mind and body.

Interested in getting your hands on an erectile dysfunction prescription? BlueChew has got you covered.

Select a plan, complete an online intake, and you're done. A medical provider will review your information and, if appropriate, prescribe your plan, which will be shipped directly to your door.

No doctor appointments or patient support charges make it a stress-free experience.

Plus, there's no commitment—you can easily cancel or switch plans anytime. Click here to explore all plan options for treatments at BlueChew.

What is apomorphine used for?

Apomorphine stimulates dopamine receptors in the brain. It's used to treat Parkinson's disease and has also been studied for erectile dysfunction, where it acts on brain pathways involved in sexual motivation and arousal.

How does apomorphine help with erectile dysfunction?

Unlike medications that only improve blood flow, apomorphine works in the brain. By stimulating dopamine receptors, it may help increase sexual motivation and strengthen the signals between the brain and spinal cord that start erections.

Does apomorphine increase sexual desire?

It isn't a traditional libido booster, but it activates dopamine pathways involved in sexual motivation and arousal. Because dopamine is part of the brain's reward system, stimulating these pathways may strengthen the mental side of sexual response.

How quickly does apomorphine work?

In studies of sublingual apomorphine, effects often began within about 15–20 minutes. BlueChew GOLD, which contains apomorphine, typically starts working within 15–30 minutes.

Is apomorphine the same as a PDE5 inhibitor?

No. PDE5 inhibitors like sildenafil and tadalafil improve blood flow to the penis. Apomorphine works differently, by acting on dopamine receptors in the brain that influence sexual motivation and arousal.

Is apomorphine an opioid?

No. Despite its name, apomorphine isn't an opioid and isn't related to morphine's effects. It's a dopamine receptor agonist.

What are the side effects of apomorphine?

The most common side effects are nausea, dizziness, yawning, drowsiness, sweating, and headache. It can also lower blood pressure and, less commonly, cause fainting. Side effects are most likely the first time you take it.

Why is apomorphine included in BlueChew GOLD?

GOLD combines ingredients that support different parts of sexual function. Sildenafil and tadalafil support blood flow, while apomorphine targets dopamine pathways in the brain involved in sexual motivation, helping address both the mental and physical sides.

Is apomorphine safe?

Apomorphine has been studied in clinical trials for several conditions, including ED. It isn't right for everyone, especially people prone to low blood pressure or fainting. Use it only when a licensed provider has reviewed your health history and medications.