Recently the BBC had a feature on Parkinson’s and compulsive behaviour resulting from dopamine agonist drug treatments.
We have been given some information directly from Parkinson’s UK Scotland which we think is important to share:
“Over the past year, the BBC has been investigating impulsive and compulsive behaviours as a side effect of dopamine agonists, which are used to treat conditions including Parkinson’s and restless leg syndrome. The majority of people taking dopamine agonists won’t experience these side effects but for those who do, the consequences can be devastating.
Raising awareness of the side effects and the impact that they can have on families is important. It’s equally important to us that no one is put off taking their medications which help so many people manage symptoms of Parkinson’s without the side effects. Any changes to medications must be discussed with your health care team.
Working with people with Parkinson’s, we have published our policy statement on this topic. You can read it in full here, but to summarise the key points:
- Medical professionals have a responsibility to make people more aware of the potential side effects from the very start of their treatment and we include this in our resources for healthcare professionals. We welcome the update to the NICE guidelines in January 2025 which mean that anyone on dopamine agonists should be asked about impulsive and compulsive behaviours at every appointment.
- Pharmaceutical companies have a responsibility to make the risks clear and work towards new and better treatments that do not have these side effects. At Parkinson’s UK, we’re investing in treatments that address the most pressing needs, and this includes impulsive behaviours.
On our website, we also have information and support for people with Parkinson’s and their families to make them aware of the risk, what signs to look for and what action they can take. If anyone is concerned about themselves or someone else, they should talk to their GP as a simple adjustment to medications can stop the behaviours”.