OCD

[PatrickW]

Has anyone become compulsive about certain activities? Specifically your sex drive? My sex drive is off the charts, anyone else?

[Hidden]

Are you on Requip? You need to talk with your Dr.

[PatrickW]

Not on Requip. I think it's from the Mirapex ....

[PatV in reply to PatrickW]

Def the Mirapex. LIke Requip it causes OCD . I can;t even share the behaviors I developed on those meds. Glad I got back on Sinemet.

[PatrickW]

Believe me, I have talked to 2 different Drs; my GP and neurologist.

[Hikoi]

And what so they say Patrick?

You are right it will be the Mirapex.

There is a known relationship between agonists and compulsive behaviour for some people. It should mention it on the drug information sheet . There are some other threads on here you might find interesting, can find them by doing a search.

[lmbanni]

my husband has/had the same problem. I don't have a high libido and it was causing us problems. We talked to his doctors too and his neurologist said the Requip he was on was causing it. But he did not want to take him off of it. We had to make him do it!! My husband is now taking an extra dose of Sinemet when he hurts and gets stiff. it is still a struggle at night when his restless legs start to jump and cramp really bad. We don't know what to do about that. The sinemet does not help. We have to call the doctor again and see what will help at night. We tried heating pad and massage. Not much help. Anyone have any suggestions?

[PatrickW]

Believe it or not I get restless legs when my feet get hot. When that happens I go outside in bare feet and walk on the cold concrete until my feet get cold and the restlessness dissipates. Anyone who has restless leg that heres this tells me I am full of it. I really don't care if anyone believes me or no but it works for me.

[wifeofparky]

I am so exhausted when I go to bed, I can't say what happens to my husband during the night. Sometimes his dreams will wake me when he trashes about. He get very "amourous" but I thought it was from his Zoloft. He is on Sinemet and Selegiline also.

[Hidden]

I have read where some people take a small amount of Requip at night for restless legs.

I've thought about asking my neurologis for a small amount of requip, but had such a rough time when I was taking Requip.

[honeycombe3]

Patrick, WOW another hot-footed RLS sufferer!! & I thought I was all alone. Seriously it's only in the past 6 months that I've found the heat affects my feet. I regularly run cold water into my washing up bowl & sit soaking away whilst watching TV or reading. Better yet I play a cold shower on my lower legs & feet. before bed..

[RoDias]

The only OCD thing my husband did when on Requip and Mirapex was shop on line for his sports collectibles. Oh how we both wish it had been his sex drive - LOL. Seriously, you need to talk to your doctor to see if he/she will change your medications.

[PatrickW]

I'm in a double-blind clinical trial at Penn that is studying this exact problem.

[ma4PDcure]

Hi Patrick. Yes. You are not alone when it comes to the hightened sexual libido effects from the dopamine agonist medications. I've been on mirapex since the time I was diagnosed with PD in the late 2004. I am still on mirapex but at a reduced dosage. Just so you'll know any medication that affects your dopamine levels will have this effect on you. I am referring to Impulse Control Behavior Disorder which is more of the accurate terminology used instead of OCD. Even sinemet can potentially contribute to an impulse control disorder although less than a direct dopamine agonist medication like mirapex and requip. This medication has greatly transformed my sexual libido impulse behavior to such a point that it has affected my marriage negatively, of course. We are still together and we still enjoy the intimate part of our relationship, [ well with her only to a certain extent ] and I know my wife would have enjoyed a more harmonious relationship like we once had before I developed PD and took medications. My neurologist knows of my ICD and has tried to wean me off the medication but on the other hand the mirapex has indeed helped my PD symptoms tremendously in conjunction with other PD meds and so he has kept me at a much reduced dosage. This reduced dosage has diminished my libido impulses to a certain extent. I guess you can say that my wife has unwillingly become used to my hightened sexual libido and has/is trying to keep our relationship together. She understands the effects these medications has upon those who are on this type of medications and she is striving hard to keep us and our children together as a family. We have 4 children ages 3 to 12 yrs. I know my wife has gone thru hell putting up with me due to unwanted effects of these medications and I can't blame her if someday she decides to pick up and leave. But at the same time she realizes how beneficial they are in helping me achieve 3 to 4 hrs of close to normal function and free of PD symptoms. Once my meds wear off I'm close to a useless vegetable. So this is my story. It is an unfair situation for my wife but what else can I do if Mirapex does tremendously help my motor dysfunctions and provides me with some good physical abilities for 3 to 4 hrs at a time.

Well I hope this has given you some real insight into the Impulse Control Disorder effects that some PD patients can develop if they are on any form of a dopamine agonists medications. Also remember that an impulse control behavior disorder can be manifested in other different ways. For instance, one can become a shopaholic, overeater, gambler, and perhaps develop any other impulsitivities.

So there you go. You are not alone. The question here is: how many more PD patients like us who are on a dopamine regulator medication also has this behavior disorder but has not come out and talked to others about it? We can all learn something from others if we open up and share with one another.

[PatrickW]

I feel your pain. My wife also bears the brunt of this medication. Hopefully the study I'm in will be able to counter-affect this problem.

[ma4PDcure in reply to PatrickW]

Thank you Patrick. Are you able to discuss any more details regarding this study you are participating in?

[PatrickW]

All I know is that they are very aware of this problem and are working on solving it so we don't have to stop taking Mirapex. Study is over in about 2 weeks. I signed up through this web site - foxtrialfinder.michaeljfox.... and they have a lot of good info