Gambling and compulsions due to dopamine agonists

Post subject: Gambling and compulsions due to dopamine agonists

pokermid wrote:
I'm also a pathological gambler, a compulsion, brought on by the dopamine agonists prescribed to combat PD.I've brought this over from another Thread. Pokermid, gambling and other compulsions due to dopamine agonists has become quite an issue. How much did you gamble before you started dopamine agonists ? What sort of change in your gambling habits was there after you'd been taking dopamine agonists for a while ? What did you gamble on ? Did you also expand on what you gambled on because of the dopamine agonists ?
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pokermidJoined: 18 Jul 2007Posts: 199Location: CHELMSFORD, ENGLAND
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 6:28 pm Post subject:

joe bob i liked a flutter as well as the next man in my world of construction workers. i would have a fiver on a tip in the pub, i would have a score on the national or the derby and i would play a few fruities down my local and maybe join in the lottery syndicate. i occasionally went with my wife to a race meeting with a coach load of friends, family or colleagues. lightweight stuff to what took over and nearly destroyed my life and all my loved ones. at first , i dismissed reports with the link with da's , but the snowball grew and i looked more closely at what i was taking , what it did , what it was meant to do, what it might do, and how my disease and body worked. even when i realised that da's were the culprit, i still couldnt stop. illogical? yes. i was in a bubble , and while i hads the money i would keep on until it had all gone. i break out now and then, when i can get my mitts on any wonga, but to a far lesser degree. i have only a rough guide to the total i have gambled and estimate a figure between £120,000-£140,000. you know what is happening but you cannot stop it. why did i continue, you ask? i can only say , i believe it to be the da's. and i will always be a pathological gambler whilst i am taking those class of drugs. i tried cutting my meds altogether several months ago, but that was a big mistake. and until they come up with an alternative , imy wife and i will try to be as vigilant as we can. she holds all the purse strings. i dont like it , but its the only way. pokermid_________________PEOPLE WITH PD USED TO BE CONCEITED, BUT NOW WE ARE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!
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Archduke Ferdinand IIJoined: 12 Aug 2007Posts: 179
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 5:35 am Post subject:

When I read the news reports concerning gambling and agonists, I wondered how much difference it makes. In your case it's taken you from average, no different from anyone else, to very serious. Can you substitute the dopamine agonists with something else ?
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teokimhoeJoined: 03 Mar 2007Posts: 61Location: Malaysia
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:34 am Post subject:

I think that the mental side effects of Requip (Ropinirole) such as pathological gambling and hypersexuality have been over-publicized. Based own my own personal experience, Requip seldom causes mental side effects. Very often, Parkinson's patients are on more than one drug. Therefore, the mental side effects which are attributed to Requip could be actually caused by other medications. Dr Chew Nee Kong, Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia_________________to help the PD patients aware the diseases and encourage to set up support groups to educate the patients and their immediate families
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pokermidJoined: 18 Jul 2007Posts: 199Location: CHELMSFORD, ENGLAND
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 1:05 am Post subject:

TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH. Oops big letters I no longer believe that its just the Agonists. whether its Dopamine from the Agonists or L-dopa from the Sinemet or Madopar, i dont really know! All i know is that i've had PD for 10-12 years and before i was prescribed Meds for this pox, I was just an average punter who enjoyed a game of cards for pennies, had a bet occassionally on the gee gees, bought a few lotto tickets and never ever contemplated gambling to the extent i have done. before , if i had a set, it was to try and win a few bob. what I am doing now is winning and just plowing everything back, regardless . its not logical. its not me. it doesnt make sense. i know what i am doing , but i cannot stop. stopping only becomes an option when you have nothing left. And when you have nothing, you then devise devious ways of obtaining money to fuel the need. Anyway at all. And as for Dr Chewbacca Who and what are you.? Do you work for a pharmiceutical Co? Do you have PD? Are you an expert on OCD? Are you a neurologist? What experiences are you talking about.? Why are you only talking of requip? I started on Pergolide (permax). I have seen too many similiar cases too dismiss these compulsions as anything other than the result from taking meds for my PD. These are very potent drugs and the human body is a very complex and intricate system , but also very vunerable. nobody truly knows what happens when the two combine. trial and error and forget about the casulties in between._________________PEOPLE WITH PD USED TO BE CONCEITED, BUT NOW WE ARE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!
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teokimhoeJoined: 03 Mar 2007Posts: 61Location: Malaysia
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:48 am Post subject:

Just to inform you that Dr. Chew is my Neurologlist who is a Movement Disorder specialist. He is a senior consultant Neurologist and a lecturer in the University of Malaysia. He is only the doctor in Malaysia who is in the field of Parkinson's diseases. He is the author of few books related Parkinson's disease. He is involved actively in Parkinson's association, Malaysia._________________to help the PD patients aware the diseases and encourage to set up support groups to educate the patients and their immediate families
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teokimhoeJoined: 03 Mar 2007Posts: 61Location: Malaysia
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 8:23 am Post subject:

Requip is one of dopamine agonist that treats Parkinson's diseases. I am on Requip medication for the past of seven months. It is a wonder drug for some patients as it helps my movement mobility. Like other medications it has sideeffects. It is individualised. Discuss it with your doctor for advice_________________to help the PD patients aware the diseases and encourage to set up support groups to educate the patients and their immediate families,




pokermid wrote:
TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH. Oops big letters I no longer believe that its just the Agonists. whether its Dopamine from the Agonists or L-dopa from the Sinemet or Madopar, i dont really know!Pokermid, have you any experiences that would indicate that L-dopa also causes it ? It's widely reported that compulsive gambling is caused by dopamine agonists, but ultimately L-dopa and dopamine agonists have a dopaminergic effect. I can't see why L-dopa couldn't cause the same problems.
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pokermidJoined: 18 Jul 2007Posts: 199Location: CHELMSFORD, ENGLAND
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 7:32 pm Post subject:

neither can I!!!! but i'm not really bothered anymore. Pd took over my life, but the meds destroyed it. what a paradox!!!!!_________________PEOPLE WITH PD USED TO BE CONCEITED, BUT NOW WE ARE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!