Mirapex Gambling - Studies and Information
In August 2003 the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Research Center at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix reported gambling associated with Parkinson's medications. The study lasted one year and included 1,884 patients. 529 of them took Mirapex (Parmipexole). Eight of the patients who took Mirapex developed pathological gambling behaviors. Other patients who received medications in this study included 331 who took Pergolide and 421 who took Ropinirole. Only one patient who took Pergolide developed gambling behavior and none of the Ropinirole patients developed such behavior.
Additional information made available by the Mayo Clinic published in 2005 reviewed 11 patients whose gambling behavior occurred precisely when they began and ceased taking Mirapex. The information provided by the Mayo Clinic did not mention how many patients being treated at their facilities currently take Mirapex. Following the release of these numbers, in July 2005, Lead Author on the study, Dr. M. Leann Dodd told the AP 14 more patients had been identified as having similar problems after taking Mirapex.
Mirapex is continuing to get more attention as time progresses. In February 2006, the FDA issued a press release reviewing archived information going back to 1960. The analysis revealed the strongest association with pathological gambling is linked to Mirapex. 58% of all instances of pathological gambling are linked to Mirapex. This is interesting considering that Mirapex has only been available since July 1997.
We are currently reviewing claims by individuals who have been prescribed Mirapex and developed impulse control disorders including pathologic gambling behavior. Destructive behavior has been reported by close to 300 patients so far. It is suspected that thousands more instances have yet to be discovered or accounted for. If you or someone you know has developed behavioral problems like the ones discussed here, please contact us.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with the side-effects associated with Mirapex, please click here to have us help answer any questions you may have.
Additional Mirapex Information
