Parkinson's drugs and impulsive and compulsive behaviour
Some people with Parkinson's who take
dopamine agonists have problems
controlling compulsive or impulsive behaviour. It can also affect
people taking other Parkinson's drugs, in particular levodopa.
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
Impulsive behaviour is when a person can't resist the temptation
to carry out certain activities that could lead them to harm
themselves or others. In many cases, this behaviour is out of
character.
Compulsive behaviour is when a person has an overwhelming drive
or urge to act in a certain way, often repetitively, to reduce the
worry or tension that they get from their drive or urge.
Both can have a devastating impact on the person with
Parkinson's and those around them.
Read about our campaign to raise awareness of impulsive and
compulsive behaviour.
We have a dedicated
impulsive and compulsive behaviour discussion forum for people
to share their experiences and get support.
Types of impulsive and compulsive behaviour
This behaviour can be expressed in a number of different ways,
including:
- addictive gambling
- impulsive shopping – a preoccupation with buying or
shopping
- binge eating
- hypersexuality – when people find themselves preoccupied with
sexual feelings and thoughts
Punding, which is compulsive hobbyism, or repetitive collecting
and sorting of objects, may be experienced as:
- a deep fascination with taking technical equipment apart
without always knowing how to put it back together again
- an obsession with sorting and organising objects – usually
simple items like buttons
- hoarding things
- pointless driving or walking
- talking in long monologues without any real content
Addiction to Parkinson's medication, called dopamine
dysregulation syndrome, is when a person takes more of a drug than
is needed to control their Parkinson's
symptoms.
For more information, read our free publications:
Are certain people more likely to experience impulsive or
compulsive behaviour?
You are more likely to experience impulsive or compulsive
behaviour if you're diagnosed with
Parkinson's under the age of 50.
It may be more likely to affect you if you have a family history
of impulsive or compulsive behaviour, or if you've carried out
certain behaviours in the past, such as addictive gambling,
shopping or binge eating.
If you have a history of 'risk-taking', such as gambling, drug
abuse or alcoholism, you may be more likely to develop impulsive or
compulsive behaviour connected with Parkinson's drugs, such as
dopamine addiction (dopamine dysregulation syndrome).
Treatment for impulsive and compulsive behaviour
Impulsive and compulsive behaviour is not normal.
If you think this is happening to you or the person you are
caring for, tell your GP, specialist or Parkinson's nurse right
away, so they can help. You can also call our free and confidential
helpline 0808 800 0303.
You can record discussions with health
professionals about impulsive and compulsive behaviour using our
Impulsive and compulsive behaviour in
Parkinson's information tool.
Someone experiencing impulsive or compulsive behaviour may not
realise they have a problem. So it's important that carers and
family members note any unusual behaviour and tell the appropriate
healthcare professional as soon as possible.
Impulsive and compulsive behaviour can be controlled. Treatment
may involve reducing the daily dose of Parkinson's medication,
having psychotherapy and looking into other types of
Parkinson's medication.
We do not advise anyone to stop taking or to change
their Parkinson's drugs without seeking the advice of their health
professional.
You'll find more detail in our Impulsive
and compulsive behaviour in Parkinson's information sheet.
Real life stories
3 people with Parkinson’s share their experiences of how
impulsive and compulsive behaviour affected them.
They hope that their stories will help others identify any
potential issues, and take action immediately:
You'll also find details of how some Parkinson's drugs can
affect sex and relationships in our Intimate relationships and Parkinson's
booklet.
Impulsive and compulsive behaviour research
We are currently funding 2 research projects on impulsive and
compulsive behaviour, focusing on risk factors and how the symptoms
should be managed.
Legal action against drug manufacturers
If you’re thinking about taking legal action against a drug
manufacturer, there may be a limited time frame in which to do
so.
Anyone considering this path would need to seek specialist legal
advice as soon as possible.
The Solicitors
Regulation Authority should be able to advise you further. They
can be contacted on 0870 606 2555.
More drug treatments for Parkinson's
Return to the drug treatments for
Parkinson's main page
Direct and confidential help and support
Share your experiences with others on our
impulsive and compulsive behaviour discussion forum.
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