Sun 26 Aug 2007
Most prescription drugs have side effects. For example, at the end of a Mirapex (for restless leg syndrome) TV commercial, it gives the following, not-too-uncommon, warning: “Miraplex may cause you to fall asleep without any warning, even while doing normal daily activities such as driving. When taking Miraplex hallucinations may occur and sometimes you may feel dizzy, sweaty or nauseated upon standing up. The most common side effects in clinical trials for RLS were nausea, headache, and tiredness. You should talk with your doctor if you experience these problems.” So, you feel sleepy and maybe a bit dizzy. That’s not remarkable. Then, at the very end of the commercial the voiceover says,
“Tell a doctor if you experience increased gambling, sexual or other intense urges.”
WHAT?!? As it turns out, Miraplex occasionally unlocks bizarre behavior in the elderly. “According to a University of Toronto study presented last month, as many as 1 in 15 patients taking the drugs — potentially thousands of people — may have compulsive reactions.”
First, he started buying things in EBay auctions — a camera, a leather reclining chair, a big-screen TV, sunglasses, costume jewelry and dozens of other items. He dived into online gambling, lottery tickets and penny stocks. Before long, he was disappearing for days to play slot machines at Indian casinos near his home in Rancho Cucamonga. He ran through his savings and pawned his CD collection, his children’s video game player and his wedding ring. Gambling “was something I could not turn off,” said Sweet, a 45-year-old former middle school teacher. … An elderly California widower started wearing dresses, heels and lipstick; one man became obsessed with fast driving and abandoned his job to ride a jet ski up the California coast, according to a study by USC researchers.
What’s in your pill box today?
For more reading: http://www.mirapexclaimcenter.org/ http://www.laleva.org/eng/2006/05/compulsive_behavior_triggered_by_mirapex.html http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/case/mirapex.html