Impulse Control Disorder (spending/gambling/overeating/hypersexuality) on dopamine agonists.

[Joolsg]

If there are any women on this forum who have been affected by Impulse Control Disorder ( impulse buying/gambling/hypersexuality/overeating) on dopamine agonists (Ropinirole, Pramipexole or Rotigitone) and were NOT warned by their doctors, the BBC are doing an article and film about this common side effect.The chief journalist now wants to talk to another 2 or 3 women on an anonymous basis.

If you have not already spoken to the BBC, and have been affected by ICD ( or know someone who has been affected & who is prepared to speak) can you please email:

[e-mail]

The more we raise awareness of this common side effect- the more likely we are to stop doctors prescribing dopamine agonists.

Thanks.

[Sher78]

My GP actually warned me about it all when she prescribed Ropinirole but I didn't even end up taking them (thankfully!) due to the iron doing the trick. Hope you are doing ok my lovely!

[Joolsg in reply to Sher78]

How wonderful to have a knowledgeable GP!I'm so glad you used Iron BEFORE DAs. Sadly, it seems that using DAs can permanently damage dopamine receptors and then Iron and gabapentin fail to work.

I'm doing brilliantly thanks Sher. Zero RLS ever on low dose Buprenorphine.

[Sher78 in reply to Joolsg]

Excellent news! So pleased for you. I've stopped supplementing with the Ferrous Fumarate now as my Ferritin is sitting quite happily at around 400 (has been for about the last 6 months now and because I had the hysterectomy & am no longer bleeding, I'm able to retain my iron stores, so obviously haven't needed to supplement in all that time). So far, so good, the RLS has been kept at bay. I sometimes feel like I'm going to have an episode & I feel a little "twinge" but thankfully it doesn't seem to amount to anything. If only we could tackle some of the other issues as well. Hope things continue to be good for you

[WideBody]

I am not in the UK, so I won't be offended. They do know that DA drugs affect males too? I know one personally.

[Joolsg in reply to WideBody]

Yes. But there have been around 5 newspaper reports recently on this. And the stories were about men.The BBC have decided to concentrate on women because women are affected 3:1 by RLS. And more likely to be ignored/gaslit by doctors when they say they are spending too much etc.

Their story.

They know ICD affects men and women.

[SleeplessinNC in reply to Joolsg]

I reached out via email.

[Joolsg in reply to SleeplessinNC]

Thank you. 😊