GlaxoSmithKline’s drug, Requip, which is prescribed for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease and Restless Leg Syndrome, has been linked to a host of bizarre side effects including compulsive gambling, sexual urges and other intense urges.

Mayo Clinic study

Requip – a dopamine agonist – stimulates the nerves in the brain which are normally stimulated by dopamine – a chemical in the brain which helps control motor functions and movement. Researchers at the renowned Mayo Clinic have suggested that a link exists between dopamine agonist drugs, sexual urges and other intense urges and Requip. Patients who stopped taking the drug or reduced the dosage found that these symptoms were alleviated. Since the Clinic’s study, GlaxoSmithKline added language to the drug’s label which states:

[P]atients should inform their physician if they experience new or increased gambling urges, sexual urges or other intense urges while taking Requip…

Boehringer Ingelheim’s Mirapex also studied

Mirapex, a similar drug to Requip but manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim, has also been linked to the same intense urges and was identified in the Mayo Clinic’s study. The company has included a similar warning on the label of Mirapex.

Lawsuits filed

According to news reports, lawsuits have been filed against GSK alleging that the company did not warn consumers about the possibility of these urges and many users – who had never gambled in their lives – became compulsive gamblers as a result of taking the medication. The lawsuits allege that the company should pay back those who have lost money due to compulsive gambling.

As strange as that may sound to many of us, compulsive gambling is a serious disorder. In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic:

Compulsive gambling is an impulse-control disorder. This means that you're not able to resist engaging in behavior that's harmful to you or to someone else. People with impulse-control disorders usually feel a sense of emotional arousal or excitement before engaging in the behavior, followed by pleasure and gratification, and then guilt or remorse.

If you’ve been injured by Requip or any type of dangerous drug, contact an experienced drug litigation attorney to discuss your situation and evaluate your options. Consultations are free, without obligation and are strictly confidential.