Drugs commonly used to treat Parkinson's disease have been linked to various compulsive disorders, Loyola University-Chicago study says
Compulsive gambling or eating could have a devastating effect on anyone, but couple that with someone trying to deal with Parkinson's disease and there could be tragic outcomes.
Impulse control disorders such as pathological gambling have been linked to medications commonly prescribed to patients dealing with Parkinson's disease, according to a review article by neurologists at Loyola Medicine and Loyola University-Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. Some of the other impulse control disorders (ICDs) linked to the drugs include compulsive buying, hypersexuality and binge eating.
Imagine a loved one being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and taking their medication to deal with it, only to watch them develop a disorder that could drain their bank account or ruin their family life. There are things that families can do to mitigate the situation once they know what is going on.
A previous national study found that 14 percent of Parkinson's disease patients experienced at least one ICD. Overall, the disorders are more common in men. Men also were more likely to engage in the compulsive gambling and hypersexuality, while women were more likely to delve into compulsive eating and buying.
Jose Biller, MD, and Adolfo Ramirez-Zamora, MD, authored the review article to detail the latest findings for treating ICDs in Parkinson's patients. Dr. Biller is the chair of the department of neurology of Loyola University-Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. Dr. Ramirez-Zamora is a former resident in Loyola's department of neurology, and is currently at Albany Medical College serving as the Phyllis E. Duke Endowed Chair in Movement Disorders.
Patients dealing with Parkinson's disease are often prescribed medications called dopamine agonists, which help them deal with the main symptoms of the disease such as tremors. These drugs such as pramipexole (Mirapex) and ropinirole (Requip) are the medications linked in the recent review.
The authors noted in the review that alternative options for treating symptoms of Parkinson's disease are always being tested, and that there are strategies for controlling ICDs associated with the medications. The authors noted that there are non-drug treatments as well including cognitive behavioral therapy and using deep-brain stimulation.
Ultimately, as the authors point out, families can play a large role in keeping ICDs from developing or getting out of control.
"Families should be warned that Parkinson's disease medications can cause ICDs," the authors said. "Families should report to their patient's physician any unexplained absences, change in routine behaviors, irritibility or monetary consequences."
The review article, "Treatment of impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease," was published March 10 online for the Expert Review of Nuerotherapeutics.
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http://www.dailyrxnews.com/drugs-commonly-used-treat-parkinsons-disease-have-been-linked-various-compulsive-disorders-loyola
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