Mirapex and gambling. Doctor sues the drug company and casinos after losing $14 million:
Wells, a retired pathologist, was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2000, according to the lawsuit. After taking Mirapex for several months in 2004, Wells “developed an irresistible compulsion to gamble,” the lawsuit said.Wells, who Thomas said had been an occasional gambler, lost several thousand dollars gambling in Las Vegas and on the Internet, according to the lawsuit. After he told his doctor that he thought Mirapex was causing him to gamble, his physician switched him to Requip and increased the dosage, the lawsuit said.
As Wells was losing $14 million “” which included about $1.2 million in IOUs called markers that Wells hasn’t paid “” his wife was unaware of his losses because she wasn’t gambling with him, Thomas said.
During the last week of January, Wells’ wife began to question him and he confessed to the losses, the lawsuit said. When his doctor took him off Requip, his gambling compulsion stopped, Thomas said.
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I don’t think it is fair to compare casinos to smoking or asbestos. You cannot get cancer from gambling. All you can loose is your money. In most cases – you pay for entertainment.
Very high suicide rate amongst compulsive gamblers. A lot more than money is lost.
This a far ways off from “McDonald’s made me fat.” The Stacy-Barrow study of Aug 2005, the Mayo Clinic study of July 2005, and the recent joint Duke University/FDA study of Feb 2006, all nailed dopamine agonists as catalysts for compulsive gambling. Further, there has been European reporting on this situation since at east 2000.
Very high suicide rate amongst compulsive gamblers. A lot more than money is lost.
What about the suicide rate among people who lost money on the stock market? Anybody did a study? Brokers lend money all the time.
Gambling is not just in the casinos. Even if you close those up – there are horses, sports bidding, even lottery tickets.
Even if this medication does cause compulsive behavior how can the casino’s be held accountable for it? That’s what I don’t understand. They don’t take your medical history when you go in the door. They don’t require a list of all your medications and possible side effects from them.
If a convienence store clerk sells a 6 pk. of hershey bars to someone, then that person goes into a diabetic coma is that clerk responsible?
I gambled feverishly for two full years while taking Mirapex for PD. When the Stacy study was issued in August of 2003, I visited my neurologist and even gaver her a copy of the news reports. She looked at me like I was totally nuts, and with a very condescending manner told me this was not possible. I told her I was quitting Mirapex, which I did. My three-times-a-day casino visits went to absolute ZERO within five days, and I have not gambled a penny since–nor have I taken any dopamine agonists. I lost my retirement savings, my son’s college tuition, and most of the equity in my home. Despite all this, I cannot blame the casinos, as they were only doing what they are meant to do–rob you blind. (I call it the Indians’ Revenge.) And it’s true, they track your gambling and know exactly what they are doing. Every employee in the casino knew my name and was oh-so-caring and eager to make me comfortable on my perch in front of the $100 slot machine. I am convinced the cameras picked me up the moment I walked in. Another Life Lesson learned, but my God, the cost.
I used to Drink. I went to a therapist. She taught me to avoid situations where alcohol wasprevalent, ie I don’t walk into bars, liquor stores, I don’t go to cocktail parties. I haven’t had a drink in 20 years. You had to drive in your car to get to the casino (or take one of those bus junkets) Your choice. Nobody put a gun to your head. I still don’t understand how the drug company is liable, unless they knew beforehand the drug causes compulsive gambling, and covered it up ALA Merck and Vioxx.
anon 12:20, I’m happy you have recovered from this gambling habit but I really just don’t understand it. My dad was a compulsive gambler for years when myself and my siblings were children. He finally gave it up but he could not go near a casino after that.
I’m sorry but I still just don’t get how this medication can be responsible for it. I could even see it causing compulsive behavior but limited compulsions just towards gambling is what doesn’t make sense to me. Did you have other compulsions as well while taking this medication?
What goes through your mind while you were sitting in the casino gambling? Did you not know where you were? Did you not realize you were spending money?
Previous to my two years of Mirapex hell and gambling, I led an extremely conservative, tightfisted life. The most exciting thing I had ever done with my money was to put it into certificates of deposit. I was the very picture of a sober-minded, straight-laced arch-conservative penny-pinching tightwad. Mirapex does not make you gamble–it makes you WANT to gamble. There is a subtle distinction. You CRAVE excitement and risk, and you are willing to do ANYTHING to satisfy that craving and feel rewarded. One time, on a single pull of the slot machine, I won $76,000. I did not smile, I did not applaud, I did not laugh, I did not jump up and down, even though people all around me were. I simply sat down, straightfaced, and somberly waited for my winnings from the attendant, then I proceeded to continue playing. Within a month it was gone and I was back in the hole again. It was all in the craving. Yes I knew I was in a casino, yes, I knew what I was doing, but I had to satisfy the craving. I have never used heroin or cocaine, but believe me when I say the craving for risk was that bad. It’s all in satisfying the craving–a craving that died out totally about five days after I stopped using Mirapex.
anon-12:20
Thank you for explaining your experience with this. It’s a good thing you were able to make the connection to the medication and get off of it. Alot of lives have been ruined in casinos.
“Alot of lives have been ruined in casinos”
True, and the important distinction in Cathy’s statement is that lives have been ruined IN casinos, not BY casinos. One day in this country people will have to take responsibility for their own actions.
I agree totally with you; but please accept that rational judgement can be seriously impacted by powerful medications that affect brain chemistry. Without the medication affecting their judgement, these folks probably would not be in this situation.
Last night (22 March 2006) CNN carried a news story about dopamine agonists and compulsive behavior. They interviewed Boehringer’s own consultant researchers at the Univ of Pennsylvania. The two doctors admitted on camera there was no doubt the drugs were at fault, and that it was “crystal clear”. Could anyone want more than that?
There is news all over the wire services today (6 April 2006) about a report issued by the American Academy of Neurology Conference in San Diego. The percentages referenced concerning those afflicted by drug-driven OCD are very interesting.
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/519032/?sc=rsmn
I was taking mirapex for Restless Leg Syndrome.I was never a gambler in a casino because I was afraid to bet because I knew how hard it was to make money and how easy it was to loose it.I suffered since childhood with this awful disease and it was never looked after.I had business with my wife a slowly stated to go to the casino with an acqaintance.You know the results.I since have lost my marriage,my money and lived in a homeless shelter.It was not until somebody at the shelter sent me to a centre for addiction and mental health run by the university and hospital where I live in Toronto.I found out on my second visit to the clinic by my councilor that mirapex had these side affects.I immediately went of the medication and all my compulsions went away.Thank G-d, if not for that clinic I still would be gambling and all messed up, to say the least.I had quite a few side affects from that pill.I it now 15 months since I stopped the pill and have given up gambling and feel like a new persopn at 64years old.
Appreciate your blog,i have a victims support page against Eli Lilly for it’s defective Zyprexa product causing my diabetes.–Daniel Haszard http://www.zyprexa-victims.com
(layperson) This is not a frivolous issue. While taking Requip, my husband developed obsessive, manic, irrational personality. We are now in the process of lowering the dosage. His behavior has impoved and I am hoping for some peace very soon.
This if for the knuckle heads who really don’t know what they are talking about – the drug makes the patient compulsive – to the greatest degree – becomming irrational – of course they know they are loosing everything!.. they don’t care! They know its wrong and even have doubts about their own sanity!.. it is not about self responsiblity! My father a retired pilot – proof of financial responsiblitly – saved every last penny! He built an incredible life savings – he researched every penny he spent!.. Now it is gone- every penny – he even thought about robbing a bank, but was too scared! He thought he was crazy. Then the money ran out and he was so relieved that we could help him. He is off of the medication – broke – but now has his sanity. I have 3 kids and manage to care for my entire family and him – living month to month. There was no way on earth I could ever imagine this – but it happened.
I did not want to gamble when I started taking mirapex. I wanted to shop 24/7. I buy clothes once a year and never much that costs a lot. Then mirapex came into my life..I got PD at age 46 and the first thing they put me on was mirapex. Within days I wanted to go to town and that was 45 minutes away! I got every credit card I could and maxed them out. I did not care what I got just as long as I got it. It did not start till I
started it. We wound up in bankrupcy owing 15,000. the mirapex did it I have no doubt. I have to continue to take mirapex because stopping gave me such horrible side effects. I handle no money what so ever.
anonoymous
I was a CEO of a 450 employee organization and prominant in the community and state. When diagnosed and started on REQUIP, I had gambled three times IN MY LIFE!0ne of those times was for 4 quarters in Copenhagen, and twice at professional conferences for a few dollars–definitely not a problem.
Since starting REQUIP, I have lost nearly a quarter of a million dollars.
In April while changing pharmaceuticals with my neurologist, I accidentally discontinued REQUIP for a week. My desire to gample stopped–immediately, but I did not make the connection. Neither did my neurologist who was VERY FAMILIAR with my situation.
Recently, I was put on a patch containing no REQUIP. It was like a light switch turning off the desire to play blackjack, the slots, or anything else!
I had difficulty believing the connection until this happened. I’ve never been one to take an aspirin so questioned how a drug could cause such a compulsion. NOW I KNOW.
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