hyper sexuality: i take ropinarole... - Cure Parkinson's

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hyper sexuality

daveyno9 profile image
24 Replies

i take ropinarole & madopar i find that my sexuality is heightened i have always been very highly sexed but not quite as much as this but im not complaining i enjoy it just wish my partner cud keep up with me does anyone else have this & do u enjoy it or suffer because of it

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daveyno9
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24 Replies
DaMoJo profile image
DaMoJo

I was on Ropinerole for a few years and it was like that to start with. I knew my wife wouldn't cope so it seemed to calm down after a while as my mind turned to other 'hobbies' such as fishing and photography.

Not on Ropinerole any more stopped a few months ago to step up Sinemet.

I didn't like the way it changed my thoughts - personal interests became primary, (I became quite the fisherman and now take nice photos!) leaving other important facets of life under attended.

soup profile image
soup

Daveyno9, I assume you were given all the necessary warnings about the possibility of impulse control disorder and obsessive control disorder when you started on Ropinirole?

If you were gambling and saying things like, "I enjoy it, I only wish my bank balance would keep up." Would that ring alarm bells?

Talk about this with your partner, this could be the beginning of a problem. Allow her to speak freely and listen to what she says. Was she in on the chat from the nurse or doctor about behavioural changes that you might experience.

Graffamj profile image
Graffamj

Definitely monitor this, Dave. As Soup said, it could be the beginning of a bugger problem. In many folks, ropinerol causes impulse control disorders such as compulsive shopping, gambling addiction, and sex addiction. It may seem fun now, but you may begin doing or wanting to do things that are very out if the norm for you. I suffered from ropinerol-induced gambling addiction and it literally ruined my life in no uncertain terms. I also experienced heightened sexuality, which would have been a problem had my wife not already left me, cause I was on the prowl. Scary stuff!

JeanieBeanie profile image
JeanieBeanie

From the other aspect, being the wife and how it ruined our life, seriously consider coming of these drugs. You don't say how long you have been taking them or how old you are.

My husband started taking a dopa-agonist (Pergolide) in 1993 when there were no warnings in the packets. This didn't happen til about 2005. The hyper sexuality started straight away. He was 44 and now tells me he felt like a teenager again. Unfortunately I wasn't a teenager. Over a period of 10 years as the drug was gradually increased he developed an addiction to shopping and eating and to me, he just wasn't the same person. He walked out on me after ten years on the dopa-agonist because he thought I didn't love him. We sold the house and shared the money and I bought another house while he rented in another town. After 6 months apart we got back together but I didn't know he had developed a taste for gambling. He kept this quiet from me. His sex addiction was at its worst by this time and other things were happening that I don't want to discuss. It was devastating. £110,000 ( his half from the house we sold) all gambled away until I phoned Gambling Anonymous and they said they didn't know why this was happening with PD sufferers. Thats when I phoned his PD nurse who told us to go to his consultant and to stop taking the dopa-agonist.

Some of us tried to start a Class Action with a solicitor who was sympathetic but we realised in the end that we couldn't do this in this country. What the solicitor did tell us was that when these dopa-agonists were first developed they knew that in some people it would trigger the area of the brain that seeks reward but I suppose because these drugs would make a lot of money for the companies this detail was omitted from the instructions in the packets.

Trust me, you need to show your wife this reply so she can monitor you. It caused us to split up and we are only still together because I realised that all this wasn't the real man I married. Since my husband came off the dopa-agonist he said it was like a cloud had lifted. Read the other replies and take the advice given. Trust me we are not the only couple this has happened to but some wives aren't as understanding as I was.

Healthyangel profile image
Healthyangel in reply to JeanieBeanie

Oh...I'm not alone!

My husband was diagnosed at the age of 35 with early onset. He is a very intelligent & succesful man, held high moral standards, a role model to many people. He is also a trophy husband, everything you would want from a man. He loves me dearly.

Then came the diagnosis. Doctor put him on Mirapax. Never warned us of any side effects.

He was sneaking some porn occasionally online but I thought all man watched somewhat. Then I found him chatting online with women, then having sex on the phone paying up to $300 per call. Then he was soliciting sex whenever he went for business travels. Then I found out that he did have sex with other women!

Went to the attorney, looked into a divorce. Didn't understand my loving husband suddenly turned into a devil overnight.

But I did remember every time we go to the doctor, he would check with me if my husband had shown any compulsive behavior. I always said no coz I didn't know then he was doing all these things behind my back. Thankfully a part of me put two & two together so i decided to give the nurse a call.

Lo & behold, she told me it was definitely Mirapax & discouraged me from proceeding with the divorce.

So we went to the doctor immediately, discussed with him what happened. He immediately told my husband to quit taking it.

The pain as a spouse is beyond words. Jeaniebeanie, only you can understand what it means to put a knife through your heart.

Our marriage was severely bruised. I was severely hurt.

My husband tried his very best to restore our marriage.

I forgave him. It wasn't easy. I cried for almost a year, I couldn't talk to anyone about my pains. But slowly & surely, after a couple of years now, I can say we're a happy couple today. I cannot imagine what a drug can do to a person. Some gambled their life savings away. Some end in divorce.

A part of me wished It should never be prescribed but it helps other people without the side effects. So I say, watch out! Watch for behavior changes. Don't wait until it's too late.

JeanieBeanie profile image
JeanieBeanie in reply to Healthyangel

It has been 11 years sice our problems. It was mostly the gambling but the sexual side was also a problem. We are still together though and I do love him. No sexual problems now but I still worry that the gambling might reoccur.

Auddonz profile image
Auddonz

My husband is on Sinemet and has changed tremedously. He is 78 years old and constantly complains about not getting any sex. Since the medication has helped him a great deal, I am hesitant about having the Dtr take him off of it. Glad to know I am not alone :( He was diagnosed in March with PSP and I feel my life is upside down.

Schells profile image
Schells

Its from your medication - you are not a perv!

LDstan profile image
LDstan in reply to Schells

Thanks,,, I needed that!! My x-wife felt i was truly sick,, After i cut down on the car/lev there was no problem,, except, i was living someplace else,, that helped more then anything,, Today i have a good life,,,, i am happy ,, I am alone a lot,, But i have managed to grow to the point i can go do my own shopping,, i take complete care of myself,, I had stopped going to AA meeting years ago, so i started going again,, mostly just being around friends helps,, i always get invited to the B-B-Q's and Fish Fry's,,, My family comes and checks on me,, next month i will have my RV on a spot of land i really like,, lots of land and woods,, cows, dogs, cats, chickens, & motorcycles :) ,, Trikes anyway,, I am very optimistic.

carolineb211 profile image
carolineb211

I had this when I took Requip (ropinerole). It was great to start with and my husband thought all his Christmases had come at once but then it became more of a need than anything else.

I thought of little else and wanted sex more and more. My poor husband did his best to keep up with the demands but it quickly became overwhelming for us both. I became desperate for sex, wanting it at least every day and often more, it was almost all I thought about and my husband felt inadequate because he couldn't keep up. (He is sixty bless him)

He also began to worry what I might do to fulfil the need I had for sex If he wasn't able to meet it . (No, I never cheated on him but I can understand how it happens to some couples as the urge is so strong, thank god for sex toys)

I was taken off the Requip and after a few weeks the desire began to reduce. I still have a slightly greater interest than I did before but it is manageable now and we can enjoy each other again.

Be very careful with these drugs. It isn't until you experience what it can do that you realise how powerful they are and appreciate the damage they can cause. I turned into a person I didn't recognise.

FMundo profile image
FMundo

WOW has my attitude changed. I used to be slightly amused when I heard of people with a sex addiction. Gee its free, right at hand, certainly an outgoing, sharing activity. After reading the replies here I have TOTALLY changed my opinion. What a terrifying situation . . . and hardly something that would improve a relationship !

LDstan profile image
LDstan

Well,, I reckon i am in the process of the same situation,, Let's see,, My x-wife kicked me out,, for the 4th time,,, My girlfriend left,, for parts unknown,,, And the woman i had been living with,, Got up one day,, pitched me the keys,,, then said,, "Take care of the place,, I'm going to Alaska for awhile.",,, So all i am wondering is,, What's Going On?

I too have the same sexual problem,, or what ever you call it,,, The Marinol Helps Bunches!!! I never considered it a problem,, I take Carbodopa/Levadopa,, it causes the same reaction,,, as does other meds. i'm sure. I find it best if i just do the best i can today, then see what the morrow brings. I can regulate the Car/Lev so the problem seems to lessen. Thank ya God.

Hikoi profile image
Hikoi in reply to LDstan

Dave

Have you told the PD nurse / doctor this is happening?

Carb/lev can have a compulsive effect but it is far less likely and common than on dopamine agonists - this is a list of agonists

bromocriptine (Parlodel, unbranded form)

cabergoline (Cabaser, unbranded form)

pergolide (unbranded form)

pramipexole (Mirapexin, Mirapexin prolonged release, unbranded form)

ropinirole (ReQuip, ReQuip XL, Adartrel, Spirico XL, Ralnea XL, unbranded form)

rotigotine (Neupro)

apomorphine (APO-go PEN, APO-go PFS)

they are known to cause compulsive behaviour in some people, sex gambling, shopping etc. I take agonists and they work extremely well for me but I know people who have lost everything through these compulsions.

LDStan, Though you may think you can control your behaviour yourself I don't think it is that easy at all. I hope your doctor knows this is happening so someone is monitoring it with you.

LDstan profile image
LDstan

Yea,, I know i have a problem,,, Will see Dr. Monday.... This is just one of the drama's that life produces,,, I keep trying to figure "it" out,,, And i don't even know what "it" is.

Thanks for the input. Later LD

in reply to LDstan

"Yea,, I know i have a problem,,"

How many times have you said that?

"Will see Dr. Monday...."

So did you see him?

"This is just one of the drama's that life produces,,"

Nope

"I keep trying to figure "it" out,,"

Do you know the definition of insanity?

"And i don't even know what "it" is."

That seems about right

"Thanks for the input. Later LD"

yep, Later than you think

LDstan profile image
LDstan in reply to

Insanity ,, Doing the same thing over and over, but expecting different results.

Wow,, first time i have been called insane by someone that i have never seen or met.

He,, is a She,, and a rather wonderful Lady ,, for a Dr.

When we assume,, we generally make an ass out of u and me.

Be that as it may,, SMILE,, BE HAPPY.

Later,, LD

in reply to LDstan

Agree ,

Later

daveyno9 profile image
daveyno9

im 71 alwys been highly sexed been taking current meds about4 years they dont really make me hyper sexual they just sharpen my sex drive im no worse now after 4 years so i dont think they will get worse in the future

soup profile image
soup

But you are already looking at your wife as though she is at fault for not keeping up. This level of activity doesn't seem to suit her and that needs to be taken into consideration.

I am sure you would want to be considered as an equal partner if you wife imposed something on you.

Davey, it is obvious from your reply,

YOU ARE NOT LISTENING, why did you post in the first place

71,81,91 101 how old you are does not justify it

You have a problem and the inability to see the problem is a part of the problem

think about what Soup said

This is your Wake up call

bartogirl profile image
bartogirl

Let me introduce you to my hubby as he has the same problem and I am beat,

mekewero profile image
mekewero

I too think ,and have to watch it,cos I ve been delving into porn and "fling sites .always get snapped out by wife,but I'm the same as you too,I'm happy in love with life with wife...I suppose its that risk taking part of the brain that the drugs get into....ropinorole/cinimet

Healthyangel profile image
Healthyangel

My husband was diagnosed with early onset at the age of 35, very devastating. he's a very intelligent & successful man. Anyway, I thought what I was suffering was rare. Didn't know where to discuss or shame to even discuss. I carried my pains alone, not even being able to talk with family or friends.

After my husband started taking Mirapax, he turned really bad. (Doctor never warned us of any side effects) I caught him so many times watching porn but I was kind, I thought all man do that. Then I saw him chatting with women online. Now, that was one step a little too far. Gave him warning. Then he was looking for woman to hookup with. And then he went to have sex with her!!!

So I went to the attorney, going to file for divorce.

But before I filed the papers, I suddenly remembered the doctor always asking us during our appointments if my husband had any compulsive behavior. And I always said no. So I decided to give the nurse a call. Lo & behold, she immediately told me that it was Mirapax! I was a day away from proceeding with my divorce.

So doctor stopped him from taking it. He is good now. But our marriage is different. My husband is the trophy husband, good in everything, a role model to many. I couldn't understand that he would suddenly behave like this, he always held high moral standards then he suddenly turned into a devil.

it has been a few years since this saga. I have forgiven him because I knew it was the meds that caused him to go crazy. But it was a painful few years where I was constantly on the brink of considering divorce.

He has done everything to restore the marriage & I can say today we're a happy couple.

I really hate for this to happen to anyone, especially the spouse who would be victimized. A part of me thinks this med should not even exist. Some people gamble their entire life savings away, lose their marriage. But it works for some without side effect. I guess we're the unlucky few ones that got the pains.

sex was not a problem for me and my wife

she got it the same time as me from just touching the meds

we enjoyed it together

and when i went off meds we both went back to normal

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