health
'It's ruined my life': Hundreds tell BBC how medication triggered gambling and other addictions
Parkinson's Drugs Cause Gambling Addiction in Some Patients. Doctors Are Learning.
What Happened
The BBC received hundreds of reports from patients whose Parkinson's disease medications (likely dopamine agonists) triggered compulsive gambling and other addictive behaviors. These are documented side effects that can occur when dopamine pathways are artificially stimulated, but patients report...
What's In Your Control
If you take Parkinson's medication: discuss side effects with your neurologist, set up financial safeguards before problems develop, have family monitor for behavioral changes. If you're a caregive...
