Drugs for Parkinson's May Cause Gambling Addiction

Filed in archive Gambling General on July 11, 2005

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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