“I became someone I did not recognize”: women open up about the side effects of Parkinson Drug Ropinirole

Last update:March 13, 2025, 10:58 Ist

20 women presented themselves to share their stories about how Ropinirole caused them to engage in behaviors that they could not control, which eventually destroyed their lives.

Patients claim that they have not been warned of Ropiniro’s high risk behaviors. (Representative image)

A regularly prescribed drug for Parkinson’s disease and restless legs (RLS) has been related to serious side effects, including sexual behaviors and gambling addiction. Many patients who were given Ropinirole have claimed that they were not warned of their high risk behaviors. Recently, 20 women presented themselves to share their stories about how Ropinirole caused them to engage in behaviors that they could not control, which eventually destroyed their lives. Some of them were attracted to risky sexual activities, while others woke up to gambling. A woman, who is not aware of the influence of the drug, has accumulated over 150,000 pounds (approximately Rs 1 crore) on debt.

A woman named Claire spoke to the BBC and revealed that she developed RLS during pregnancy and administered the drug after birth. Initially, it worked well, but after a year, he began to face unusual sexual urges. And he remembered that he wore a transparent top and a jacket while exposed to foreigners. Claire said that these behaviors became routine and felt uncontrollable. Shocking, the exhortations disappeared after he stopped taking the medicines, but he feels “shame” and is “dead” of risks.

She said, “The only way I could describe is that it was just a deviant. It remains an element in your head that knows that what you do is wrong, but it affects you to the point where you do not know. “

In 50 years, Sarah is prescribed a dopamine agonist drug from another manufacturer and has soon experienced severe changes in her behavior. Before taking the medicines, she had no previous interest for such things, but she suddenly became obsessed with sexual activities. Sarah started selling bodywear and explicit videos and even hired in the phone with ** with strangers. Along with this, he developed a shopping addiction, which led to 30,000 pounds (about 33 RS Lakh) in debt. In order to manage the side effects, he began to take sootles and sleeping pills, but he came into rehabilitation. As a result, she lost both the driving license and the job.

Several women have shared that Ropinirol’s taking has long worsened their restless leg syndrome (RLS). As their symptoms increased, doctors raised their dose, which in turn made the behaviors even stronger. This process is called enlargement. Dr. Guy Leschziner, a neurologist, shared that these drugs are still important for treatment. However, he believes that pharmaceutical companies, health officials and doctors should inform patients about serious side effects, because many people do not know about the extreme changes that these drugs can cause.

Location:

Delhi, India, India