Problems with Parkinson Disease Meds

“There are no therapeutic roses without thorns”, according to an expert pharmacologist. Unfortunately, some of the thorns remain well hidden, and are only recognized when enough people have been pricked. Such is the case with Parkinson patients treated with levodopa and dopamine agonists, such as bromocriptine, according to a new report.

Pathological gambling, hypersexuality, and compulsive shopping have all been laid at the door of levodopa and dopaminergic drugs. Among 300 Parkinson patients surveyed at the NIH in Bethesda, Maryland, gambling started in 10 patients (3.4%) after starting treatment – double the expected number based on population surveys. Hypersexuality was seen in 7, and compulsive shopping in 2 patients. Patients on levodopa alone were less likely to develop these compulsive traits than those on levodopa plus a dopaminergic.

This is an example of a severe side effect only being recognized many years after the drugs concerned were marketed. But of course it’s not too common – otherwise it would have been identified before. And it may be an acceptable price to pay for effective treatment for this distressing disease.