Medication warning after court case

Parkinson's patients have been urged not to stop taking their medication after it emerged that a French man won a six figure payout over a drug that turned him into a gay sex and gambling addict.

GlaxoSmithKline paid 159,000 pounds to a Parkinson's patient who said the drug Requip turned him into a gay sex and gambling addict

Charity Parkinson's UK said that the case of Didier Jambart, who said he suffered side effects after taking the drug Requip in 2003, highlights that impulsive and compulsive behaviour is a side effect of some Parkinson's medications.

But the charity warned that patients taking the drug should not stop taking medication if they are worried.

Parkinson's UK chief executive Steve Ford: "These drugs can make a huge difference to the lives of many people with Parkinson's and it's important that people aren't scared of taking them.

"We certainly wouldn't want anyone to stop taking their medication out of fear that they too may be at risk. We would encourage anyone who is concerned to find out more about what the potential warning signs - such as changes in behaviour or mood - to come to us to find out more."

On Wednesday, British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) was ordered to pay out 197,000 euros (159,000) to the father of two at a French appeals court. Mr Jambart, 52, said the drug made him addicted to internet gambling, which led to him losing his family's savings and stealing to feed his habit. He also said the drug made him a a compulsive gay sex addict.

Mr Ford continued: "Less than a fifth of people taking dopamine agonists - such as Requip - will develop some form of this distressing behaviour which can range from compulsive gambling to binge eating and hypersexuality."

A GSK spokesman said: "Requip (ropinirole) is a dopamine agonist, used to treat patients with the chronic and progressive neurodegenerative condition Parkinson's disease, for which there are only a small number of treatments available. It directly stimulates dopamine receptors in the brain and acts as a replacement for dopamine which is deficient in certain parts of the brain in patients with Parkinson's disease.

"Pathological gambling and increased libido and hypersexuality have been reported in patients treated with dopamine medicines. These reports are uncommon, when compared to the number of people treated with these medicines. Prescribing and patient information for Requip provides information on compulsive behaviours.

Read more from the original source:
Medication warning after court case