Anecdotal evidence has accumulated over the past few years that patients taking a drug which treats both Parkinson's disease and restless leg syndrome have experienced negative effects including compulsive casino gambling and obsession with pornography. This week, over 100 alleged victims of the drug sued Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and Aspen Pharmacare, saying the drug manufacturewrs were negligent in warning of possible unintended results.
Drugs developed by these companies spur the brain to react as though to increased dopamine. Dopamine production was linked by many studies to compulsive or addictive behavior, and was found to be a key component in problem gambling sufferers.
However, a study published within the May issue of "Archives of Neurology" finds that just a small percentage of tested subjects are afflicted with the problematic behavior, raising the question why it will not stimulate impulse disorders in a bigger segment of the test population.
Gambling issues were reported by 5 percent of patients within the survey, while sexual issues arose in 3.5 percent of the group.
Still, individuals who took the prescription say they weren't warned of such potential effects because the deisre to gamble and take unwise risks, or the necessity to see and experience sexual input incessantly.
“The case will take the shape of a category action within the Federal Court,” says an editorial within the Sydney Morning Herald. "THE VARIOUS claimants developed gambling addictions but a couple of exhibited compulsive sexual behavior corresponding to taking a look at pornography at the internet.”
One of the difficulties is figuring out what amount of gambling or sexual stimulation defines "normal," ands when the border to dysfunctional behavior begins.
Published on June 4, 2010 by JulieWong
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