Liz's compulsive shopping story
Liz tells us how her enjoyment of bargain
hunting turned into an unstoppable urge to shop when she changed
her Parkinson's medication.
Research has shown that around 17% of people taking dopamine agonists, a group of drugs used to
treat Parkinson's, will experience some form of impulsive or compulsive behaviour.
It can also affect people taking other Parkinson's drugs, in
particular levodopa.
Irrational need to shop
"I have always had an eye for a bargain, enjoying car boot
sales, jumble sales and charity sales.
"But over the last few years, I have developed an irrational
need to go and buy stuff, getting frustrated and angry if I haven't
got time to go or if my husband drives past a car boot sale without
stopping.
"I have been taking dopamine agonists for about 7 years. I came
off the first one I was prescribed because it made me sleepy.
Changing medication and compulsive behaviour
Our helpline deals with many enquiries related to side effects and adverse responses to drugs. Call us on 0808 800 0303 for free and confidential support.
Tim Moore, Helpline Manager
"It was with the second dopamine agonist I was prescribed that
my fondness for shopping and for a bargain got out of hand.
"I first realised that my obsession towards shopping might be
linked to my Parkinson's medication after my consultant retired and
his replacement came to talk at a meeting of my local Parkinson's UK branch.
"He asked us whether we knew anything about compulsive
behaviour. I put my hand up and mentioned the problems I was having
with shopping.
"Soon afterwards, I saw the new consultant as a patient and he
remembered that I had mentioned the problem at the branch
meeting.
"He had a research update from Parkinson's UK in front of him
and discussed current understanding.
"The thing that I have found the hardest to deal with is that
drugs I take a few times a day to control my Parkinson's symptoms
can change me.
"I suppose I'm one of the luckier ones in that my compulsive
behaviour does not cost me thousands of pounds, has not pulled my
family apart and that my clinician has been understanding."
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