Mirapex and Compulsive Behavior: What Users Say

• Pau...
• February 3, 2017

For Restless Legs Syndrome "My wife has suffered from RLS for 8 years. Mirapex is the only drug she has been prescribed that allows her a full night's sleep. We've worked and are working on alternative treatments using supplements/exercise, but so far all we've been able to do is drop her dose from 3 to 1 tablet every evening. Side effects nearly destroyed our 25-year marriage. Compulsive behavior in shopping/gambling/cheating over the last 3 years. Be very careful with this drug, be honest with your family/friends, and you can deal with it. I wonder how many of the users on here actually have compulsive behavior caused by this drug but don't realize it?"

• Pab...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 16, 2016

For Restless Legs Syndrome "It does work, but the side effects can be damaging. After a year of being on the medication, I became a compulsive gambler (one of the side effects). I became suicidal at one point. I spent some time in a hospital, where we discovered the root of my problem was Mirapex."

• Gal...
• October 11, 2015

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I was prescribed Mirapex for my Restless Leg Syndrome in 2004 and took it until April of 2006. My dosage was increased to 1.5 mg in August 2005. In October 2005, my brother and mother took me to the Niagara Casino. Until then, I had never stepped into a casino before, I knew nothing about those places. I won a jackpot. Started buying scratch and win cards at one store, then getting more with the winnings or free ticket at another store. Our plant closed at the end of February 2006. I started gambling and even thought of selling my downtown condo and moving closer to the casino. When I mentioned to the doctor that I was gambling, he said, 'you're on Mirapex, stop taking it immediately.' Turns out compulsive behavior is a side effect. All okay now."

• Mam...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 21, 2017

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I have had RLS for nearly 10 years. I have taken Requip, which didn't do anything. Now I take Mirapex. I started out on 0.125, which did nothing. I moved up to 0.5 mg and have taken that dose for about 9 years. Now, my legs and sometimes my arms go crazy on me during the day. I can't ride very long in a car because it drives me insane how my legs feel. I get very frustrated fast and become agitated. I often tell my husband I would rather cut my legs off than feel this way. I went to the doctor today, he moved my dose to 1 mg. I pray this will help me. I am also suffering from compulsive gambling and weight gain of 25 plus pounds. We need a cure for this horrible disease!!!"