Do dopamine drugs lead to compulsive shopping?

Conclusion This study analysed serious adverse drug events reported to the US FDA over a 10-year period, and found that 710 events (just under half of all impulse control disorders reported during this period) were attributed to dopamine receptor agonists. Most of these disorders involved gambling, followed by hypersexuality and compulsive shopping. This group of six drugs are used in Parkinson’s disease (and a small number of other conditions) where there is a lack of the chemical dopamine. The drugs act directly on dopamine receptors, effectively taking the place of dopamine and stimulating the receptor in the same way. Dopamine receptor agonists are known to have mental health-related adverse effects; impulse control disorders are already recognised. This study further highlights this risk, demonstrating that impulse control disorders account for more serious adverse events than all other events associated with these drugs that have been reported to the FDA. The study is based on US FDA data only, but it could give a good indication of the data reported to UK medicines regulatory authorities. The study also only covers adverse events that are formally reported, and it is unclear how many impulse control disorders may occur, but are not reported. As the researchers acknowledge, this study still cannot prove that it is the dopamine receptor agonist that has directly caused the adverse events reported. UK prescribing information for dopamine receptor agonists advises pati...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Mental health Neurology Medication Source Type: news