British patients whose doctors prescribed them drugs for restless legs syndrome (RLS) said they were not warned about the significant side effects of the medication, which included risky sexual behaviours and compulsive gambling.
One woman recalled leaving her house in the early hours of the morning in search of sex, while another racked up debts of £80 000 after developing a gambling addiction.
The drug ropinirole, described as a “dopamine agonist” and used for conditions that affect how we move, is offered on the NHS, but health guidance body NICE warns it has been linked to pathological gambling, binge eating, compulsive shopping and hyper-sexuality, reports The Independent.
RLS causes a “crawling or creeping” sensation in the feet, calves and thighs, as well as an overwhelming urge to move them, according to the NHS.
The drugs are designed to work on a part of the brain that controls movement, but the same part of the brain also regulates pleasure and reward. That means people can get more pleasure than usual from stimulating activities.
However, 20 women have told the BBC that doctors did not warn them of this side effect, which many say ruined their lives.
An internal report by manufacturer GSK reveals it was aware of the link with impulsive behaviours in 2003, and that this information was shared with drug regulators.
GSK says leaflets within the medicine’s packaging have mentioned a risk of “altered” sexual interest since 2007.
One woman, named only as Claire, said she developed RLS while she was pregnant, and after giving birth she was prescribed Ropinirole.
At first, the drug calmed her restless legs and helped her sleep. But after a year she started to experience strange sexual urges.
She recalled leaving her house wearing a see-through top and jacket and flashing her chest at any man she could find. Claire, who had a partner, said she did this in dangerous locations.
It took her years to connect these urges with the medication, but she said the urges stopped almost immediately after she stopped taking the drug. Now, she battles with “shame” and the knowledge she put herself in danger.
The GSK report from 2003 described “deviant behaviour” in two men who were prescribed ropinirole for Parkinson’s disease. One was a 63-year-old who sexually assaulted a seven-year-old girl after developing a “libido problem”, which led to a custodial sentence.
The second case was of a 45-year-old who carried out acts of “indecent behaviour”. His sex drive was reported to increase after taking his treatment.
In 2011, a class action was brought against GSK by four sufferers of Parkinson's disease. They said ropinirole led to broken relationships and gambling debts.
They also said despite links to such behaviours revealed in medical studies in the early 2000s, GSK did not include this warning in its medical leaflets until 2007. The class action was settled but GSK denied liability.
In a statement, GSK told The Independent that Requip – the brand name for ropinirole – had been prescribed for more than 17m treatments since 1996 and that it has undergone “extensive clinical trials”.
It said Requip has been shown to be an effective treatment for Parkinson’s disease and RLS, with a “well-characterised safety profile.”
“As with all medicines, Requip has potential side effects, and these are clearly stated in the prescribing information. Patients should only take Requip under the direction of a medical professional.”
It added that after the 2003 research, which found a link with “deviant” sexual behaviour, results were shared with health authorities and informed updates in prescribing information.
GSK said that the current patient information leaflet for ropinirole makes specific reference to changes in sexual interest. It also lists a strong impulse to gamble, uncontrollable shopping, binge eating and episodes of over-activity.
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