It's ruined my life': Hundreds tell BBC how medication triggered gambling

[PrivacyG]

Honestly it's saddening to hear some patients have to go through prescriptions medication failure.Most of these patients were not informed of the potential side effects when prescribed such drugs.Its still surprising to me that a drug can be effective in treatment in some people but harmful to an extent of increasing impulsive behaviors in others.Patients should ensure they protect themselves during prescriptions to avoid life altering consequences.

I am sorry but this is what stronger medications mostly do.  Ask an elderly person you know what is the name of the pills they are taking and look up their side effects.  Particularly the very common and common ones.  Most of them are good for treating your problems but many times they will have effects on other parts too.  Whether you will be more impulsive, thirsty, sad or what ever.

[rachael9385]

Honestly it's saddening to hear some patients have to go through prescriptions medication failure.Most of these patients were not informed of the potential side effects when prescribed such drugs.Its still surprising to me that a drug can be effective in treatment in some people but harmful to an extent of increasing impulsive behaviors in others.Patients should ensure they protect themselves during prescriptions to avoid life altering consequences.

I am sorry but this is what stronger medications mostly do.  Ask an elderly person you know what is the name of the pills they are taking and look up their side effects.  Particularly the very common and common ones.  Most of them are good for treating your problems but many times they will have effects on other parts too.  Whether you will be more impulsive, thirsty, sad or what ever.

I believe that antidepressants also work that way as well, when these medications are given to people suffering from mental depression it has other effects on them but one thing that's inaccurate is that the side effects of these medications induce an habit that they don't have. For the side effect of a drug to make someone gamble irresponsibly it means that person is already a gambler.

[DrBeer]

This is worth to be read, it is not about drug addiction but about drug that is prescribed by a doctor to their patients.

One mentioned is a women that developed Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) during pregnancy that become worsen over time (a condition thought to be linked to levels of iron). She was prescribed Ropinirole, a drug that can increase dopamine activity in the brain.

Not just this woman, several people have noticed that such during that increase the dopamine activity like this drug caused them to gamble more, leading to gambling addiction. Not only that, but also the people can develop hypersexuality and be having extreme urge to have sex. The drug also caused increase in shopping.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce948d9gxevo

Let's analyze this situation without manipulation.
The description of the drug lists side effects, which most likely describe these side effects. The person agreed to use them...
Alcohol, drugs, and many medications also act as activators of “shopping syndrome.” But no one has complained, for example, to alcohol manufacturers that their product removes “barriers” and provokes a decrease in logical thinking.
In conclusion, the example you gave is an isolated case. There are millions of examples of alcohol reducing the level of logical thinking!
Maybe it's better to deal with this issue?
 

[EluguHcman]

A simple look up on what dopamine can do would have revealed to them that it increases their chances of engaging in risk taking activities that can in ways bring some kind of pleasure and satisfaction, most drugs that lead to addiction are related to increased levels of dopamine as well. The drug was made to increase mobility by increasing energy and also probably causing a sense of restlessness to keep the patient active, it was bound to bring about the increase in risk taking activities but there is no way gambling would have been the first thing to come to a doctor's mind, increased sex drive is more understandable in order to bring about the pleasure but not gambling. It's really a regrettable side effect.

And as matter of fact, sex is a biological chromosome with high intensive urge to satisfy emotional pleasures while substances containing dopamine can unnecessarily arouse amongst people with reproductive organs which in no doubt can also lead to sexual addiction.
But in the case of gambling, I am still wondering how the drugs like that can be impulsive. Although I understand it can actually make someone loose control of themselves but craving for an urge of gambling is what I don't oversee how it can be effective to be specific that it increases gambling urge.

The question is... Is there really a demanded energy required to sustain one in gambling? I keep scratching my head over this because looking at it the other way, addiction is impulsive that the urge can always come once the mind is fully invested in a certain period which in this case, toxic substances can really be a trap such as alcohol too.

[Salahmu]

And as matter of fact, sex is a biological chromosome with high intensive urge to satisfy emotional pleasures while substances containing dopamine can unnecessarily arouse amongst people with reproductive organs which in no doubt can also lead to sexual addiction.
But in the case of gambling, I am still wondering how the drugs like that can be impulsive.

Is not going to lead into sexual addiction because if the drugs is giving to a pregnant woman as mentioned by op the side effects would only be effective on her within the time of the pregnancy but after giving birth any habit she ones had would be forgotten by her because it wasn't a calm mind she was doing all of those things, except a woman that love sex so much before the pregnancy, that you wouldn't no if the drug is still having effect on her. However in the gambling attractions state of the drugs is something I'm not believing the way they are saying it because anything a person would feel under any drugs is definitely what they have done ones or more on their life.

[Miles2006]

The activity loved by a person can actually destroy a person when such drugs is prescribed by either playing games, spending luxury etc. It turned out the person in question love gambling activity and other pleasure activity, this is extremely dangerous because they can’t control the urge and they’re driven under the influence of the drug. I’m surprised because I have not heard such drugs with a different side effect when we all know the common drugs having side effects and high records of abuse in essence energy given drug. I wonder how will the people stop but, I doubt if this addiction will be so serious compared to other self inflicted addiction obviously if the medication date is due and the person in question work on himself/herself I’m sure they’ll be able to limit gambling lifestyle or whatever form of addiction.

[goldkingcoiner]

This is worth to be read, it is not about drug addiction but about drug that is prescribed by a doctor to their patients.

One mentioned is a women that developed Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) during pregnancy that become worsen over time (a condition thought to be linked to levels of iron). She was prescribed Ropinirole, a drug that can increase dopamine activity in the brain.

Not just this woman, several people have noticed that such during that increase the dopamine activity like this drug caused them to gamble more, leading to gambling addiction. Not only that, but also the people can develop hypersexuality and be having extreme urge to have sex. The drug also caused increase in shopping.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce948d9gxevo

Did their doctor fail to inform them to keep in mind that they would be unreasonably happy because their dopamine receptors were on overdrive? They should have known the medication would alter their judgement. There is a reason why on some medication you should not operate heavy machinery - But that is just one example. Here we have another situation.

The patient should have been resting in a darkened room until her medication wore off.
Any external stimulation like gambling can have a detrimental effect.

[Smartprofit]

This is worth to be read, it is not about drug addiction but about drug that is prescribed by a doctor to their patients.

One mentioned is a women that developed Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) during pregnancy that become worsen over time (a condition thought to be linked to levels of iron). She was prescribed Ropinirole, a drug that can increase dopamine activity in the brain.

Not just this woman, several people have noticed that such during that increase the dopamine activity like this drug caused them to gamble more, leading to gambling addiction. Not only that, but also the people can develop hypersexuality and be having extreme urge to have sex. The drug also caused increase in shopping.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce948d9gxevo

As far as I understand, ropinirole should not be prescribed to pregnant women. You can find a list of contraindications for this drug online. 🙋

I think the doctor who prescribed this very dangerous medication to his patient is at fault in this case. Incidentally, if you look at the list of side effects of this drug, gambling addiction is far from the worst thing that can happen to people taking it. For example, people taking ropinirole can suffer from painful hallucinations. In other words, their mental state changes dramatically. They can behave inappropriately...

Therefore, loved ones should closely monitor the behavior of people taking ropinirole. In my opinion, this is not a situation where online gambling is safe. A person taking ropinirole has incredibly low self-discipline and (consequently) can commit many unnecessary actions and bad deeds.🤷

If you do have someone whose that under some medications then as part of family then its our right to ask about into those drugs or medicines that being put into on which whether it is that still in line with such medication or it might that too much on this case on which you can still be able to oppose or trying out to tell about your doubt on such drugs. Somewhat we cant really be able to make up some words telling this and that since we arent doctors and they are the ones who are knowledgeable when it comes into medicines and thats why we do end up on agreeing and letting them be on what they would be putting into.

if it turned out that  these medicines or drugs could be affecting out and giving that effect then as much as possible then we can make out some complaints about that if we cant then lets just that avoid our loved ones on dealing up with something specially if they are still under medication or maintenance.

My niece recently fell victim to a scam. She's only 18 and very naive. 🙋

She was convinced to buy a marketing course and take out a loan to pay for it. As she later told me, "It was like I was hypnotized." After checking, it turned out that the marketing course was informational garbage, completely unrelated to reality. And she's still paying off the loan... By the way, the scammers don't have an office or representative office in my country.

This, in my opinion, is a classic example of how important it is to constantly look after the well-being of our loved ones! We need to be attentive to our loved ones. It's important to maintain an atmosphere of trust and mutual support. Then no ropinirole will pose a threat! My niece wasn't under the influence of ropinirole or any similar medications, but she still suffered. Her fiancé was sitting with her in the same apartment (in the next room). The scammers managed to "hypnotize" her before she could tell her boyfriend about the whole situation.  Perhaps they weren't used to discussing such things among themselves. She wanted to surprise him...

Therefore, in my opinion, we shouldn't hide our passion for gambling from our loved ones. And they shouldn't hide their love of online casinos from us either. The most important thing is mutual trust. Then we can always help each other in a critical situation.🧖

[NurseHub]

Wow! I didn't know there was a drug such as that. Dopamine increases as a side effect. It's horrible. That kind of drug should be banned because many lives will be ruined by it.

Anyway, I think the victim should sue whoever prescribed it to her, or she could seek help from the government to sue whoever made it. It should not be given to people if there are so many risks involved. What more if it were given to a gambler? It will totally be a problem for them because it could trigger a gambling addiction that they didn't have before. I mean, from being a responsible gambler to suddenly becoming a gambling addict with just one drug.
[/quote

These drugs are called over-the-counter drugs, which are only prescribed by a professional medical doctor and not for a long-term goal. And before it's been prescribed, the patient will be given a full study of how it works and advice to be taken around family.

Ropinirole is solving and causing different health challenges too, which means it has a positive and negative effect on the body while Dopamine is helpful in the body in many areas and harmful to the body when it's excess too.

This is not the only drug that causes alarming conditions, analgesics also cause other health challenges while relieving pain from the body. That is the reason it's not advised to take them for the longer term.

The patient can't sue the doctor for this, except if the doctor is not licensed, didn't give out proper information of the side effect to the patient or gave the patient the wrong dosage.
You can't get this class of drugs in the pharmaceutical area without your "doctor's prescription".It's not just for restless legs syndrome, but it's also prescribed for Parkinson's disease.‎

[Sammye3]

Honestly it's saddening to hear some patients have to go through prescriptions medication failure.Most of these patients were not informed of the potential side effects when prescribed such drugs.Its still surprising to me that a drug can be effective in treatment in some people but harmful to an extent of increasing impulsive behaviors in others.Patients should ensure they protect themselves during prescriptions to avoid life altering consequences.

Medically, most people have genetic differences and how their body reacts to a drug. What might work perfectly well for one might have a side effect on another so I think it is essential to test for these differences before administering any drug to a patient.

I'm still trying to articulate how a drug can make someone start gambling out of the blue without any former gambling experience,  because its not just adding up to me. I can quite understand the aspect of drugs causing a rise in sexual drive but not just the gambling aspect.

[Porfirii]

Honestly it's saddening to hear some patients have to go through prescriptions medication failure.Most of these patients were not informed of the potential side effects when prescribed such drugs.Its still surprising to me that a drug can be effective in treatment in some people but harmful to an extent of increasing impulsive behaviors in others.Patients should ensure they protect themselves during prescriptions to avoid life altering consequences.

Medically, most people have genetic differences and how their body reacts to a drug. What might work perfectly well for one might have a side effect on another so I think it is essential to test for these differences before administering any drug to a patient.

I'm still trying to articulate how a drug can make someone start gambling out of the blue without any former gambling experience,  because its not just adding up to me. I can quite understand the aspect of drugs causing a rise in sexual drive but not just the gambling aspect.

All medicines and drugs have a so called (or many) active component(s), otherwise it would be just placebo. In some cases, the effects are well known, but in many they aren't, or at least they aren't to their full extent. Let's think that an aspirin can help with pain or strokes, but affect the brain in a way yet unknown, or especially negatively to some people and not others, . I'm not an expert in pharmacology, but that's how most medicines work with the current state of the art.

So it doesn't surprise me that some drugs, especially those that affect the dopaminergic channel or other neurotransmitters and hormones, have an unexpected effect in some patients behaviour, who may seek stimulus in activities activities that had not previously caused them problems, like sex, gambling or other kind of consumerism.