Pramipexole and Compulsive Behavior: What Users Say

• Pau...
• February 3, 2017

Pramipexole 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

Pramipexole 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."

• Geo...
• March 3, 2020

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I started taking pramipexole 8 years ago, .75 mg ER late morning and .5 mg non-ER 1 hour before bed. It worked well until I realized my compulsive shopping was due to a side effect. The shopping started when the daily dose was doubled from .375 to .75. I kept making excuses for the packages arriving each day, but my significant other kept pointing out that receiving six packages a day was not normal. (I have no idea why I suddenly need a linen closet full of throw blankets I don’t use, enough chapstick for the entire town, and every subscription box available.) As soon as my doctor found out, he decreased the daily dose back to .375 and put me on Horizant. Oh my... the RLS is worse than it has ever been, and I am still shopping online. I am hoping this will be short-lived, and after a few weeks my body will forget all about this drug. Now I fear side effects from Horizant, which is gabapentin enacarbil. I wish I had known compulsive behavior was a side effect of pramipexole."

• Gal...
• October 11, 2015

Pramipexole 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

Pramipexole 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!!!"

• H6H...
• September 3, 2017

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I was prescribed this drug in April 2008 by a consultant neuro for RLS. I was not told of the side effects as my meds came in blister packs! I spent £130,000 due to compulsive shopping (yes, it is a side effect)! I was forced to set up an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA), it ruined my life. I was a different person, it destroyed me. In the end, my marriage fell apart, I lost my home, £300,000.00, and my self-respect. Please, please be very careful on taking this drug, as I know I'm not the only person to suffer."

• slm...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 16, 2020

Pramipexole for Parkinson's Disease "Besides Mirapex ER causing compulsive behavior (shopping) as a side effect, it seemed to be working fairly well. I was taking the 4.5 mg dose for Parkinson’s. But when my neurologist passed away suddenly, I had to switch doctors. She completely changed my medicine. It’s been almost a month and a half, and I’m in the worst shape I’ve ever been in. Withdrawal for my brain had been unimaginable."

• Red...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 29, 2021

For Parkinson's Disease "This drug and other dopamine agonists are a complete nightmare for me. We were devastated with the impulse control disorders or compulsive behaviors (shopping, eating) these drugs cause. It ruined our family completely. Please refrain from using dopamine agonists. It will destroy your life by causing a lot of psychiatric problems. These come as side effects of the drug."

• NAN...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 25, 2016

For Restless Legs Syndrome "Taking pramipexole for a few months, I began to black out without being aware of it. Falling asleep, especially at church or any time I was quiet. Compulsive gambling, shopping. Messed my heart up. I started having a very fast, irregular heartbeat. I have had six heart ablations because of this drug. It probably works great for some, but it is the most dangerous medication I have taken. Ruined my life. I can't walk at the mall shopping for more than two hours. Cannot bowl, play golf, not even exercise. I had to research it on the internet before I was sure what was causing all of these side effects, and there had been lawsuits earlier (too late for me). There was one in Canada at the time of my experience. I told the pharmacist about it, and she said she didn't believe it."

• Ric...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 10, 2022

Pramipexole for Parkinson's Disease "Diagnosed at age 48 with Parkinson’s, although I remember resting tremor began at 39. In the beginning, on pramipexole, I would feel faint when standing up, and I admit that was scary, but that went away quickly. I still feel drowsy, often with sleep attacks, despite being on it for 2 years. Having said that, it is worth it because the resting tremor and anhedonia are gone. I can enjoy life again to the fullest. What I liked the best was when I asked my neurologist about the ER version (0.75 mg). It’s so easy to only have to take 1 tablet a day, and I feel like I’m on a more even keel. I never had any compulsive behavior but found that I enjoy online shopping. Nothing devastating, of course. Thank goodness for pramipexole. Life is great!"

• Mil...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 4, 2022

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I started taking Mirapex at least 20 years ago. It was a godsend! RLS was so bad that I was often up all night. It has worked great for me, although the dosage has increased over the years. I now take .25 mcg at lunchtime, .25 after dinner, and .50 at bedtime. If I am tired or miss a dose, I need to take an extra pill. I do sometimes get symptoms in my arms as well. However, after reading the reviews here, I realize that my compulsive shopping may be caused by pramipexole. I find myself buying things, especially clothing, that I don’t need. Knowing this now, I hope that I can control my urges better because I am loath to give up this medication. If I forget to take my evening dose, I spend hours with jumpy legs that cause me pain as well. I can’t imagine my life without this medication!"