Eleven people with Parkinson Disease became compulsive gamblers after taking certain drugs designed to treat the disease.

It has long been thought that certain medicines can cause behaviourial issues - and whilst rare - has offered an interesting insight into addictions and potential cures

Parkinson's Disease is often treated with drugs that increase dopamine levels to help control movement - however, dopamine also plays a part in the body's reward system

One 52-year-old married man started gambling "uncontrollably" after raising the dose of his dopamine Agonist. His wife phoned the neurologist to report that her husband had lost more than $100,000...
Another man with no history of gambling started frequenting casinos for days at a time...
And one 68-year-old man lost more than $200,000 gambling in six months ...

All these events took place after the patient began the drug dose - and the behaviour stopped when the dosage was reduced or discontinued

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