Are my husband's new addictive behaviors related to his Parkinson's medication?

Addictive and compulsive behaviors have been linked to some Parkinson's disease medications and we often reduce medications or alter medication regimens when we hear of this type of behavior. The See also:
Parkinson's Meds Help -- But May Cause Scary Side Effects

See all 113 questions about Parkinson's Disease "bad actors" in this regard are the dopamine agonists such as ropinirole and pramipexole (Requip and Mirapex). That being said, more literature seems to be showing that some patients with PD (up to 25%) may develop some degree of compulsive behaviors despite medication becuase Parkinson's can affect those areas of the brain. Typically, our approach is to titrate off of the potentially contributing medication while trying to control the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease with other medications. If this is not effective, sometimes adding other medications such as quetiapine can be helpful, although its always important to try to remove medications that may be causing this first. That being said, more literature seems to be showing that some patients with PD (up to 25%) may develop some degree of compulsive behaviors despite medication becuase Parkinson's can affect those areas of the brain. Typically, our approach is to titrate off of the potentially contributing medication while trying to control the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease with other medications. If this is not effective, sometimes adding other medications such as quetiapine can be helpful, although its always important to try to remove medications that may be causing this first.

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Absolutely, yes. My father has become very compulsive after and during 14 years of combinations of carbodopa, levadopa, etc. His behavior is irritating, but harmless.

I did read (Chicago Mgazine?) a few years ago of a woman lawyer, diagnosed in midlife with Parkinson's, who never gambled before, become addicting to gambling. She wiped her family out, and tried to commit suicide before someone figured out it was the Parkinson's meds. The article talked about gambling, sex addiction, and several other non-substance abuse compulsions.

I wish I could direct you to th article, but the is research on this already. I'm not sure what the treatment is either. Courage!

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Agnonists cost my family more than $30,000 when I went on a compulsive slots binge.

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