BBC investigation into side effects of dopamine agonists
In the UK, a BBC investigation revealed that more than 250 patients experienced impulse control disorders, including compulsive gambling, while taking dopamine agonists, in particular ropinirole (Requip, GSK), prescribed for restless legs syndrome and Parkinson’s disease.
Side effects and lack of warnings
The link between these medications and gambling disorder, as well as other forms of impulsive behaviour, was confirmed by studies as early as 2017.
Despite this, patients report that doctors continue to provide insufficient information about the risks associated with taking these drugs.
Even after dopamine agonists were downgraded as a first-line therapy for restless legs syndrome, prescription levels in England did not decline.
Patient stories and the scale of the problem
Financial losses and addictive behaviour
One patient, Emma, said she lost tens of thousands of pounds over the course of a year due to a sudden onset of compulsive gambling and shopping.
Like many others, she did not connect her behaviour to the medication until her family found BBC reports describing similar cases.
Those who contacted the newsroom came from a wide range of professions, including police officers, nurses, doctors, and bank employees.
Other forms of impulse control disorders
In addition to gambling, people reported compulsive shopping, hypersexuality, binge eating, and risky financial decisions.
In some cases, these behavioural changes led to debt, family breakdowns, criminal cases, and suicides.
Most of those affected stressed that they had no previous history of such behaviour and had not been warned about the possible consequences.
How the drugs work
Dopamine agonists increase the activity of dopamine, a chemical involved in movement control as well as motivation and reward.
According to specialists, the effect on these systems can lead to the development of impulsive behaviour.
Estimates suggest that up to one in six patients with Parkinson’s disease taking these drugs experience such effects, which places them in the category of “very common”.
Response from authorities and regulators
Last week, the chair of the House of Commons Health Select Committee contacted the regulator MHRA with a request to review current warnings about side effects.
The UK government described the new findings as highly concerning.
At the same time, patient information leaflets continue to use broad wording, without listing the specific types of behaviour reported by patients.
Risk data and legal consequences
The BBC also found that as early as the beginning of the 2000s, the manufacturer of ropinirole was aware of cases of severe sexual disorders linked to the drug.
These descriptions were not directly reflected in patient warnings.
Outside the UK, court cases have already been heard in which the influence of ropinirole was recognised as a mitigating factor or grounds for compensation.
A ruling is expected soon from a French court in a case against GSK related to financial losses and the breakdown of personal relationships associated with the use of the drug.