Hundreds of patients have reported developing compulsive behaviours — including gambling addiction, excessive spending and hypersexuality — after taking medications prescribed for movement disorders, according to a BBC investigation.
The drugs involved belong to a class known as dopamine agonists, commonly used to treat Parkinson’s disease and Restless Legs Syndrome. Among them is Ropinirole, produced by GSK.
One patient, identified as Emma, said she lost tens of thousands of pounds to gambling after being prescribed Ropinirole for Restless Legs Syndrome during pregnancy. She said she only discovered the possible link between the medication and her compulsive behaviour after reading media reports. Following the investigation, numerous others — including healthcare professionals and banking executives — shared similar experiences.
Dopamine agonists increase dopamine activity in the brain, a chemical responsible for regulating movement, motivation and reward. Medical experts warn that overstimulation of these pathways can lead to impulse control disorders, triggering behaviours such as pathological gambling, binge shopping, sexual addiction and, in extreme cases, criminal conduct.
The report noted that some patients in the UK say they were not adequately warned about these risks before beginning treatment.
Concerns about such side effects date back years. In 2000, a case reportedly linked Ropinirole to paedophilic behaviour, though warnings about heightened sexual urges were added to product information later. Legal cases have since emerged in countries including Belgium and France, with patients claiming significant financial and personal harm linked to the medications.
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said safety warnings are issued after careful review of evidence and acknowledged that patient information leaflets cannot list every possible individual reaction. Health authorities have urged patients experiencing unusual urges or behavioural changes to consult their doctors promptly.
Source: BBC
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