Hidden Dangers: Risk of Deviant Sexual Urges Linked to Common Medication

[Social Media]

 

Patients taking medication for movement disorders, including restless leg syndrome (RLS), say they were never warned about the severe side effects that led them to engage in risky sexual behavior. Twenty women have come forward to the BBC, revealing how these drugs turned their lives upside down.

 

A report from pharmaceutical company GSK, obtained by the BBC, shows that as early as 2003, the company was aware of a link between dopamine agonist drugs and what it described as “deviant” sexual behavior. The report cited a disturbing case in which a man sexually assaulted a child while taking the medication for Parkinson’s disease.

 

Some women who spoke out about their experiences had no idea what was causing their sudden, compulsive urges. Others found themselves drawn to gambling or shopping sprees, despite having no prior history of such behavior. One woman accumulated debts of over £150,000.

 

Claire, one of the women affected, first developed RLS during pregnancy. She described the symptoms as an unbearable urge to move, accompanied by sleeplessness and a crawling sensation under her skin. However, she soon found herself acting in ways she never imagined. “The only way I could describe it is it was just deviant,” she said, unaware of the term’s connection to the 2003 GSK research. Claire began leaving her home in the early hours of the morning, seeking out men for sex. Wearing revealing clothing, she would expose herself to strangers, even in increasingly dangerous situations, despite being in a committed relationship.

 

“There remains an element in your head that knows what you're doing is wrong, but it affects you to the point that you don't know you're doing it.”

It took Claire years to link these behaviors to her medication, and once she stopped taking it, the urges disappeared. Now, she is left with overwhelming shame and regret.

 

Medical literature has long listed impulsive behaviors, including gambling and heightened sexual desire, as potential side effects of dopamine agonist drugs. Health guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) suggests that 6% to 17% of RLS patients may experience these effects, far higher than the 1% threshold typically considered a “common” side effect by the NHS.

 

These drugs work by mimicking dopamine, a chemical in the brain that regulates movement and is associated with feelings of pleasure and reward. However, experts warn that dopamine agonists can overstimulate these sensations while dulling a person’s ability to recognize consequences, leading to reckless behavior.

 

The 2003 GSK report detailed cases of men taking Ropinirole for Parkinson’s disease who engaged in extreme behavior. One 63-year-old man sexually assaulted a seven-year-old girl, leading to a prison sentence. His libido had increased significantly when he began taking the drug, and his urges disappeared after his dosage was reduced. Another case involved a 45-year-old man who engaged in “uncontrolled acts of exhibitionism and indecent behavior,” with his sexual compulsions intensifying after starting the medication.

 

The 20 women who spoke to the BBC claim that doctors failed not only to warn them about these risks but also to monitor the effects of the medication over time. Sarah, another patient, said that before taking the drug, she had little to no interest in sex. “Previously, I’d have had no interest if Brad Pitt walked in the room naked,” she said. “But it turned me into this raging woman who kept taking sexual addiction further.”

 

Sarah’s compulsions led her to sell used underwear and explicit videos online while arranging phone sex with strangers. She also developed a compulsive shopping habit, leading to £30,000 in debt. Desperate to regain control, she turned to opioids and sleeping pills, which led to her admission to rehab. As a result, she lost her job and her driver’s license. “I turned to things that weren’t healthy—I knew that the behavior wasn’t me, but I couldn’t control it.”

 

Sue, another woman affected, was prescribed two different dopamine agonist drugs without any warnings about compulsive behavior. She even mentioned new gambling tendencies to her doctor before being given the second prescription. The gambling spiraled, leaving her £80,000 in debt. “The effect on my family was horrific—it was life-changing money to lose,” she said. “But at the time, I didn’t know it was no fault of my own.”

 

A class-action lawsuit against GSK was filed in 2011 by four Parkinson’s patients who suffered similar compulsions. They alleged that Ropinirole caused gambling addictions and the breakdown of their relationships. They also pointed out that medical studies had established a connection between the drug and compulsive behaviors as early as 2000, yet GSK did not update its product warnings until March 2007. Although the case was settled, GSK denied any liability.

 

GSK has since stated that its findings were shared with health authorities and contributed to updates in prescribing information. Current patient leaflets for Ropinirole now warn of “altered or increased sexual interest” and “behavior of significant concern.” The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) acknowledged that while the term “deviant” sexual behavior is not explicitly mentioned, warnings about potentially harmful impulses are included.

 

The MHRA emphasized that healthcare professionals must explain these risks to patients, though not all individuals experience these side effects. The Department of Health and Social Care declined to comment on the issue.

 

Based on a report by BBC  2025-03-14

 

 

[Tug]

Yeiks!

[JonnyF]

An interesting excuse to justify being an old slapper. 

[NumbNut]

Grog is pretty bad too eh. 

Beer Goggles, for one.

[flyingtlger]

1 hour ago, Social Media said:

Claire began leaving her home in the early hours of the morning, seeking out men for sex. Wearing revealing clothing, she would expose herself to strangers, even in increasingly dangerous situations, despite being in a committed relationship.

 

NICE!

[bkk6060]

Where can I get a prescription?

[ignore it]

Seems with the death of woke some kinds of sex are now considered deviant.

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Where can I get a prescription?

30-40 minutes a day is not enough for you?

[Tailwagsdog]

..ok this explains everything ..

For many years my friends would say to me .."Your'e on the wrong drugs" ....