Mirapex

pramipexole dihydrochloride

Mirapex is the most commonly prescribed drug for Parkinson’s disease. The drug can improve a patient’s ability to move and decrease tremors, stiffness, slowed movement and unsteadiness. Mirapex may also be prescribed for restless legs syndrome (RLS), a medical condition that causes an unusual urge to move the legs.

Common side effects observed in patients using Mirapex are:

• nausea
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• trouble sleeping
• constipation
• headache
• dry mouth

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, NY, have found a link between drugs used to treat symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and compulsive gambling, eating, drinking and sexual activity in patients with the disease.

In a study published in July 2005 by the Archives of Neurology, researchers said that between 2002 and 2004 they identified 11 Parkinson’s patients at the clinic who reported sudden, inexplicable changes in personality and behavior after starting drug therapy. Since then they have identified an additional 14 patients who were not included in the original study.

Most often the behavior started within months of taking the drug Mirapex, the most commonly prescribed drug for Parkinson’s.

Source: “PRAMIPEXOLE - ORAL,” Webmd.com, May 2007.

Mirapex linked to gambling and other compulsive behavior

Mirapex, the most commonly prescribed drug for Parkinson’s disease and Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), has been at the center of a class-action lawsuit. The class action suit was filed in 2006 against Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the manufacturer of Mirapex, on behalf of Joe Neglia, who developed what he called “the gambling habit from hell” while taking Mirapex for symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Neglia lost thousands of dollars gambling, and he may not be alone.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, NY released a study in July 2005 linking Parkinson’s disease drugs like Mirapex to compulsive behavior in gambling, eating, drinking, and sexual activity. Most Parkinson’s patients are believed to have had no prior history of compulsive behavior prior to taking drugs for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

However, eleven Parkinson’s patients were identified to have developed a compulsive gambling problem while taking Mirapex or a similar dopamine agonist drug between 2002 and 2004. Since the publishing of the story in the Archives of Neurology, at least 14 additional patients were identified with similar problems when taking the same drugs. Did the makers of Mirapex fail to warn patients of the risks? Why has there not been a Mirapex recall in the United States?

Source: Associated Press, “Popular Parkinson’s drug linked to gambling,” July 12, 2005.

Mirapex and pathological gambling: a strong association

On February 15, 2006, United Press International (UPI) reported that “Parkinson’s disease patients who take anti-tremor drugs are at greater risk of becoming pathological gamblers.” This conclusion was based on a study performed by three doctors that were associated with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and one doctor associated with Duke University. They surveyed the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System and found 39 reports of Mirapex users with pathological gambling addictions as of March 2005. The analysis of the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System, which surveyed reports for a link between dopamine agonists and compulsive gambling, found the strongest association of pathological gambling and a drug in Mirapex. Mirapex accounted for 59% of the reports of gambling addiction.

Most often the compulsive behavior reported started within months of taking the drug Mirapex. Compulsive behavior has been seen to stop once the drug is discontinued for a length of time. Paul Sandberg, distinguished professor of neurosurgery and director of the University of South Florida Center for Aging and Brain Repair, said that the fact that patients were able to reduce the behavior by stopping drug therapy “implies that it was the drug” that caused the compulsive behavior.

Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has revised the patient insert literature to include compulsive behavior among the drug’s potential side effects.

Sources: Josephine Marcotty,“Parkinson’s drugs linked to gambling, other compulsions,” Star Tribune, July 12, 2005; “Parkinson’s Treatment Linked to Compulsive Gambling,” ScientificAmerican.com, July 12, 2005; Amanda Gardner, “Some Parkinson’s Drugs May Trigger Compulsive Gambling,” HealthDay, July 11, 2005; United Press International, “Drugs Linked to Gambling Compulsion,” February 15, 2007.

Mirapex and compulsive behavior: Not so new findings?

The FDA and drug makers like Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. may have known about the compulsive gambling side effects for several years. Earlier research has been consistent with recent findings that link Mirapex to compulsive behavior.

The 2006 Mayo Clinic study findings stemmed from an extension of earlier research studies that found a link between dopamine agonist drugs like Mirapex and a range of compulsive behaviors.

In an August 2003 issue, Neurology published an article entitled “Pathological gambling associated with dopamine agonist therapy in Parkinson’s disease.” The study found that nine out of 1,884 patients had an extreme case of compulsive gambling. Of the nine found to have compulsive gambling issues, eight were taking Mirapex.

In a 2003 study published by researchers at the Muhammed Ali Parkinson Research Center at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Arizona, 1,800 Parkinson’s patients were monitored over a one year period. Of the 529 patients who took Mirapex in the study, eight developed gambling addictions. In most patients, the gambling behavior improved after they discontinued use of Mirapex.

Sources: Shanker Vedantam,“Prescription For an Obsession? Gambling, Sex Manias Called Surprise Risks Of Parkinson’s Drugs,” Washington Post, March 19, 2006; Ana Szarfman, et.al,”Association Between Gambling and Parkinsonian Therapy as Detected in the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Database,: Archives of Neurology, 63 (February 2006); Driver-Dunckley et al,” Pathological gambling associated with dopamine agonist therapy in Parkinson’s disease,” Neurology 61 (August 2003).

Call a Mirapex Lawyer Today – Free Call, No Obligation

If you or someone you love has been taking Mirapex for Parkinson’s disease or Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) and have experienced excessive compulsive behavior such as gambling, eating, drinking, or sexual activity, abnormal to prior use of Mirapex, it may be in your best interest to contact a lawyer. Contact our personal injury law firm today. Some people may have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars and personal property because they literally could not stop their behavior.

A consultation with a product liability lawyer may be in your best interest. If Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals knew the risks of the development of compulsive behavior from the taking of Mirapex, you may be entitled to compensation for the damages you may have suffered as a result. Our lawyers are investigating the circumstances of this case. Your information will be reviewed by a Mirapex lawyer who may be able to help you gain compensation from a Mirapex lawsuit.