For many patients with Parkinson’s Disease, the drug Mirapex seemed to be a miracle. It offered the promise of stopping the tremors many had experienced or decades. Unfortunately, it is now apparent that Mirapex and similar drugs cause bizarre behavior in some users – with some developing gambling problems, heightened sexual interest or compulsive spending and eating habits where there had previously been no sign of compulsive behavior.
This week, the first of three “bellweather” trials concerning Mirapex and its alleged linkage to compulsive gambling is underway in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis. More than 200 people are suing Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, the maker of Mirapex, over compulsive behavior they say it caused. These first three trials will be used by many legal experts to gauge the strengths and weaknesses of those cases.
People with Parkinson’s lack dopamine in key areas of the brain. Mirapex and drugs like it are known as a dopamine agonist, and they work by mimicking the effects of this vital hormone and neurotransmitter. Other dopamine agonists include Requip, Parlodel, Dostinex Apokyn and Neupro.
For years, people taking Mirapex and similar drugs have complained about problems with compulsive behavior. Most of those complaints involved people who had no history of compulsive behavior before they started dopamine agonist therapy, and most reported that the behavior stopped as soon as they quit using the drugs. Several small studies, including one published in 2005 by Mayo Clinic researchers, found a link between the drugs and compulsive behavior, especially gambling addiction. The drugs’ labeling also includes warnings about possible compulsive behavior.
In June, results from the largest study ever to investigate the connection between compulsive behavior and dopamine agonists was presented at the at the International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders conference in Chicago. That study found that more than 13 percent of patients taking dopamine agonists, sold under brand names suffer from at least one of four serious behavioral addictions.
The study, which looked at more than 3,000 patients from 46 medical centers in the United States and Canada, found that Parkinson’s patients on dopamine agonists are nearly three times more likely to have at least one impulse-control disorder compared with patients receiving other treatments.
The growing evidence that Mirapex and other similar drugs are linked to compulsive behavior has changed the way some doctors approach these medications. Dr. Eric Ahlskog, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic who has treated Parkinson’s patients for 25 years, told The Chicago Tribune that he no longer is comfortable starting patients on dopamine agonists after three patients in his practice last year developed significant gambling and sexual problems.
Other doctors told the Tribune that while they still treat patients with dopamine agonists, they are using smaller doses. Many are also now asking the patients they treat with the drugs and their families about compulsive behaviors as part of routine patient checkups.
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June 5th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
I was just given a prescription for gabapentin 300mg 90 minutes before bedtime. Can increase 300mg every night to a max of 1200. This increase is weekly. I have symptoms of restless leg syndrome but my problem is much more than RLS. I have heavy legs and problems with balance. I was on Requip with some help to the symptoms but developed compulsive gambling problem. Is anyone else in a similar situation or have any advice for me as to what to expect. I have had this problem for over 5 years. It started with just kinda stubbing your toe as I walked and progressed to turing to walk a certain direction and my upper body moved but my legs did not follow. Things like stepping up on a curb became something to think about and prepare for before I attempted it. My legs and ankles tire easily. The nuerologist just tells me there are some things we do not know and this is one of them? I have had MRI from head to toe and no results. ANY SUGGESTIONS?
September 15th, 2009 at 6:43 am
My spouse and I have been togethwr for over 18yrs In the last 6 months my husband and I had minor arguments over my bein g too generous with my charge card to others who could not get rx etc no sign nor was nothing but a loving relationship He has out of character,bizzare acts HIS FAMILY (WHO KNOWS I HAVE BEEN A VERY GOOD WIFE AND RELATIVE TO THEM EDWIN CLAIMED THAT HE AND HIS FAMILY ARE GOING TO WRITE OUT MY DEATH CERTICATE THE NEXT DAY HE DENIED BUT THIS TIME I DID USE A TAPE TO PROVE HIS OUT OF CHARACTER ACTS AND VERBAL THREATS HE ALSO SAID VERY CALMLY HE STOCK PILED ‘PHENOBARBITOL’ SO HE COULD KILL HIMSELF HE HAS BEEN ON LINE WITH SOMEONE AND THE PHONE WILL RING 2 TIMES AND HE GOES ON INTERNET STAYING FOR HRS WORKS 12 HR SHIFTS AND WOULD GET UP AFTER 3 HRS TO STAY ON LINE FOR HRS ONE HE TOLD SOMEONE IT IS A LADY WHICH WOULD BE WAY OUT OF CHARACTER HE IS 60YRS OLD AND HAS SUFFERED WITH ED FOR OVER 5YRS….SHE OR HE ARE FROM CANADA AND I HEARD HIM SAY AT ONE POINT ON THE PHONE HE WAS INCREASING THE LIFE INSURANCE ON ME!!!!HE HAS A 100,000 ON ME FOR YRS I AM SO SCARED HE NOW IS WAITING FOR HIS PASSPORT AND SAID HE IS GOING TO DISSAPPEAR PERHAPS FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH THREATS THAT HE EITHER GOING TO HURT ME OR HIMSELF!!! HE ALWAYS SAID HE WANTED TO DIE IN HIS HOMELAND..THIS IS ALL BIZZARE COMPLETELY IS THIS CONTACT IN CANADA HELPING HIM DO SOMETHING CRIMINAL??? THE ONLY THING DIFFERANT ON HIS MEDICATION SCHEDULE IS MIRAPEX WHEN HE LEAVES HE KNOWS I WILL LOSE OUR HOME WITH OVER 80.000 IN EQUITY IF WE SOLD AT ROCK BOTTOM PUT DOWN $103,000 and he would loose everything as I have health problems and never worked much and he did not have me go out for a job and within 3 months I will lose everything including medical coverage and house Who in their right mind would walk away from $80,000 clear equity?? People are losing their home because of being laid off etc our mortgage is less than 600 month PLEASE TELL ME ASAP THROUGH EMAIL IF THIS BIZZARE BEHAVIOR COULD BE FROM MIRAPEX???TIME IS RUNNING OUT HE SAID HE IS LEAVING WITHOUT ME KNOWING ANY TIME NOW SAID YOU ARE GOING TO LEAVE HIS ADORABLE 3 GRANDDAUGHTERS AND HE SAID F—K EVERYONE INCLUDING THEM LITTLE GIRLS WHO LOVE THEIR PAPA I AM AT A LOSS AND GOING TO EITHER LOSE EVERYTHING OUT ON THE STREET AND NOBODY TO HELP ME OR HE MAY ACT ON HIS THREATS I DO NOT KNOW IF I SHOULD CALL THE AUTHORITIES AND LET THEM LISTEN TO HIS THREATS ON TAPE OR HOLD OFF AND ASK YOU FOR ADVICE if this could be a side effect of the drug mirapex and please give me info on adding my name to the lawsuit against drug company PLEASE HELP ME AND EDWIN thank you so much you may reach me on my cell if needed 603-520-5919 thank you so much Susan Lavoie
October 16th, 2009 at 11:25 am
generic Mirapex is an Addicton for Gamling,i havewiasted away my Life Savings to not have Restless Leg Syndrome
November 5th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
My friend started taking mirapex for her Parkinson’s the 1st of July, 2009. Last week, we found out that she had gambled away over $62,000.00 that she did not have. She borrowed from credit cards, cashed in her CD’s and spent every cent she had to her name. She is about to lose her job, she has no retirement and no one to turn to. Are there no Attorneys out there that can help her? This is complete opposite of the woman that I have known for over 15 yrs.