Betting Away Your Life Savings: The Untold Side Effects of Medication
Drug Therapies for Restless Leg Syndrome Potentially Lead to Compulsive Gambling Addiction
Warning bells are ringing as more patients are risking it all due to a hidden side effect of their prescriptions. The BBC reveals that patients popping pills for restless leg syndrome are not being alerted about potential life-altering side effects, such as gambling addiction and inappropriate sexual behavior. One of the 20 women who shared her story with the BBC blew a staggering £80,000 ($103,000) on gambling.
These medications belong to a class called "dopamine agonist" drugs. However, the women who spoke with the BBC weren't informed that these drugs could cause a barrage of compulsive behaviors. Sue, one of the victims, started seeing gambling behavior she'd never had before when her doctor prescribed her the second medicine. tragedy struck as her gambling addiction plunged her into £80,000 worth of debt.
"The fallout on my family was catastrophic - it was a life-changing sum of money to lose," Sue confessed to the BBC. "But at the time I didn't know it wasn't my fault."
Legal Victory for a Misled Patient
While these consequences may not be the norm for users of dopamine agonist drugs, Sue isn't the first victim. Others echo her plight with stories of compulsive gambling problems and addictions. In 2015, Philip Stevens, a British man managing multiple sclerosis symptoms, found himself neck-deep in a gambling problem after starting on Roprinirole.
Philip, a previous occasional bettor on horse races, found his addiction spiraling into shopping and fishing trips once he started on the medication. He lamented, "I am not the same person as I was pre-Ropinirole."
Finally, in late December 2024, Philip emerged victorious in his lawsuit against his doctor, collecting £70,000 ($91,000).
Dangerous Compulsions: A Horrifyingly Frequent Side Effect
The UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) reports that between 6% and 17% of restless leg syndrome patients who use dopamine agonist medications experience impulsive behaviors as a side effect. Although it falls within a range, the number is staggering - a side effect is considered "common" if it occurs just 1% of the time.
These drugs mimic how dopamine works in our bodies, assisting in regulating our movement. Many are also familiar with dopamine as the elating hormone our bodies release when we experience pleasure, often referred to as a "dopamine rush."
Yet, dopamine agonist drugs sometimes amplify this rush while muffling the part of our brains that understands the consequences, leading to compulsive behaviors. One victim spoke with the BBC of engaging in daring sexual escapades, such as going out early in the morning, flashing men, and looking for sex, despite being married.
"There's a part of your brain that still realizes what you're doing is wrong, but it influences you to such an extent that you're not aware you're doing it."
Dopamine Agonist Side Effects: A Closer Look
Dopamine agonists are linked to impulse control disorders, including:
- Increased gambling urges
- Heightened sexual urges
- Other intense, compulsive behaviors (e.g., binge eating, excessive spending)
Despite the mechanism still being unclear, these behaviors are thought to result from an overstimulation of dopamine receptors in brain regions associated with pleasure and desire. Clinical trials for newer dopamine agonists like tavapadon show a lower incidence of such behaviors compared to older drugs, though nausea and dyskinesia remain common.
If these side effects appear, patients are advised to consult their healthcare provider and discuss possible dosage adjustments or alternative treatments.
- Sue, one of the victims, confessed to the BBC that her life-changing gambling debt was a result of taking dopamine agonist drugs for restless leg syndrome, unaware of the potential for life-altering side effects.
- In 2015, Philip Stevens, a British man managing multiple sclerosis symptoms, started on Roprinirole and found himself neck-deep in a gambling problem, later emerging victorious in his lawsuit against his doctor for not informing him of the potential risks.
- According to the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), between 6% and 17% of restless leg syndrome patients who use dopamine agonist medications experience impulsive behaviors as a side effect, a side effect considered "common" if it occurs just 1% of the time.
- Clinical trials for newer dopamine agonists like tavapadon have shown a lower incidence of impulse control disorders, but symptoms such as nausea and dyskinesia remain common.
- One victim spoke with the BBC of engaging in daring sexual escapades, such as going out early in the morning, flashing men, and looking for sex, attributing these behaviors to the overstimulation of dopamine receptors in the brain by dopamine agonist drugs.
