What does a gambling compulsion have to do with meds for restless legs?
Question by winter_spice78: What does a gambling compulsion have to do with meds for restless legs?
I’ve seen that side effect listed on commercials for 2 different brands and wondered what that has to do with anything?
Why single that one out though if there are other risk-taking activities and compulstions it could cause?
Answer by Robin
They have to list ALL side effects that happened during the research phase. It could be totally unrelated to the drug, just someone that tested it felt a gambling compulsion.
They say the two are related to ADHD. Addictive personality and restless leg syndrome.
Yeah, I was wondering that myself!
Is that not odd ? I guess the drug may cause compulsiveness, such as gambling.
I have restless legs….my doctor says the meds can create a gambling compulsion, or shopping addiction…it’s because tit triggers something in your brain that makes you want to spend money and take risks…
Adult ADHD symptoms.
Me too, Like to see the answers,Great question!
You might want to check the DSMV IV on mental disorders to read the list of criteria for diagnoses, signs and symptoms.
I took one of the medicines for Restless legs and i didn’t
feel like gambling but Mervyns had a great sale that week
and i loved that and i usually don’t go that crazy.. But i got
done and after that i didn’t feel like spending and i think that was a
coincidence, however after a month it didn’t do that much so
i went off of the medicine
I’m guessing that you’re talking about Mirapex and Requip. I believe that both meds affect the central nervous system. It may be that, in some individuals, these meds stimulate the part of the brain that controls obsessive behaviors, making the person more susceptible.
Some non-medicinal things that you might try for RLS include ditching the caffeine and/or nicotine. Eat leafy green vegetables to get more folate in your diet. Zinc may also be a useful supplement. Massage and yoga can also be quite beneficial.
If you must go the medicine route, please avoid Klonopin. As a benzodiazepine, Klonopin is very addictive and the withdrawal syndrome that some users experience upon discontinuation will make you think that RLS is a walk in the park (if you’ll pardon the pun).