Q. I have endured restless legs syndrome (RLS) for years. I also suffer from extreme compulsive behavior, including shopping and gambling. I take Mirapex both evening and morning, as my RLS symptoms have become worse with age.
This medication has ruined my life. I only discovered recently that the compulsive behaviors are drug side effects.
A. Many people are surprised to learn that medicine taken for Parkinson’s disease or RLS is linked to bad behavior–gambling, hypersexuality or compulsive shopping. A reader reported that one of these, Requip (ropinirole), turned her into a big-time gambler. Another woman said this about Mirapex (pramipexole):
“I took Mirapex for a year. I was already taking Sinemet for Parkinson’s disease. I shopped compulsively, buying many things that I did not need. I filled closets with stuff, some of which I did not remember when I saw them later.
“Stopping Mirapex stopped the compulsive behavior. Not only was the drug itself expensive, I can only imagine how much it cost otherwise, in both money and health.”
Some readers have found that putting soap in socks can calm the restlessness that is so distressing. Although this is unlikely to be as effective as prescription medication, the remedy is also free of the devastating side effects you experienced.
