Treatment of Parkinson’s disease and a restless leg syndrome is associated with risky behavior – this is what you need to know

Headache and you feel that the disease is common side effects for many drugs. Getting on to risky sexual or pathological gambling – not so common.

But BBC examination He emphasized that some drug treatment of the restless Parkinson syndrome can lead to such risky behavior.

Over 150,000 people in Great Britain Wish Parkinson’s – a state of degeneration that affects the brain. The main part of the damaged brain is an area that produces dopamine, a chemical relay that regulates movement. Less dopamine in the brain can lead to symptoms such as trembling, muscle stiffness, leisurely movements and balance problems.

Another movement disorder is Restless legs (RLS), which influences between 5% and 10% people in Great Britain, USA and Europe. Twice more women than men have RL among people over 35 years of age.

Read more: The restless leg syndrome is incurable – here’s how to deal with symptoms

People from RL believe that they have to uncontrolle their legs and can experience creeping, crawling or tingling in them. Usually the symptoms are worse at night, when dopamine levels are usually lower. Although the exact cause of RLS is unknown, that was connected to genes underlying health conditions and dopamine imbalance.

One of the main methods of treating movement disorders is a group of drugs called Dopamine receptor agonistswhich include Cabergoline, Ropiniro, Bromocryptine and Pramipeksol. Dopamine receptor agonists escalate the level of dopamine in the brain and support regulate movement.

Dopamine is known as “Happy” hormone Because it is part of the brain prize system. When people do something amusing or pleasant, dopamine is released in their brain. However, the employ of agonist drugs of Dopamine-Receptor can raise these feelings, which leads to impulsive behavior.

While common side effects include headaches, feeling illness and drowsiness, these drugs are also connected with a more unusual side effect Impulse control disorders. They include risky sexual behavior (hypersexuality), pathological gambling, compulsive shopping and overeating. Hypersexuality It includes behaviors such as a stronger than the usual need to have sexual activity or is unable to resist sexual effect, which can be harmful.

Previous reported cases Attach a 53-year-old woman receiving Ropinirol and showing impulsive behaviors, such as access to internet pornography, using sex rooms, meeting strangers for sexual intercourse and compulsive shopping. Other thing He emphasized a 32-year-old man who, after taking Ropinirol, began to get drunk with food and gambling, so that he lost his savings.

When the medicine was prescribed at the beginning of 2000, it was believed that impulse disorders were Rare side effect related to these drugs. But in 2007, regulatory agency for medicals and healthcare products (MHRA) Public assessment report He informed that “healthcare employees should warn patients that compulsive behavior of dopamine agonists may be associated with the dose.”

Between 6% and 17% people from RLS who accept dopamine agonists develop some form of impulse control disorders, and at the same time up to 20% People living from Parkinson can experience impulse control disorders.

But real numbers can be even higher, because many patients may not associate changes in behavior with the drug or can be too embarrassed to report it. Case reports Show that in most cases impulsive behavior stops when the medicine is stopped.

Lawsuits

There are several individual and collective processes against pharmaceutical companies, including Glaxosmithklinewhich is produced by RECIP® (Ropiniro) and Pfizerwhich makes Cabaser® (Cabergoline). Patients undertaking actions against these companies claimed that they were not aware of these impulsive side effects.

For example, in 2012, a French court Ordered Glaxosmithkline to pay 160,000 pounds compensation for Didier Jambart, after he experienced “destructive effects” while taking Parkinson’s drug collecting. And in 2014, the Australian Federal Court approved the settlement against the Pfizer for a collective claim regarding Parkinson’s drug, Cabaser. 150 patients He claimed that they had no warning about the potential side effects-in this increased gambling, sex addiction and other high-risk classes-Cabaser.

Currently, this is clearer in the patient’s information leaflets administered with all prescribed drugs for movement disorders that some patients may have impulsive behavior.

In 2023, Mhra announced that it had increased Reports pathological gambling with a drug called Aripiprazole. This antipsychotic drug, used to treat schizophrenia and mania, partly acts as a dopamine receptor agonist.

Each drug that raises the level of dopamine could theoretically associate with impulse control disorders and it is essential that in such cases patient monitoring and their behavior.

Not everyone will experience side effects. Before starting any treatment, a doctor or pharmacist should explain potential side effects-but it is also essential to read the information leaflet with any drug. And if you experience any impulsive behavior with these drugs, talk to your doctor or pharmacist immediately.