Hypersexuality Complication of Dopamine Agonists: Pramipexole or Ropinirole

Abstract

Antiparkinsonian drugs especially dopamine agonists have many side effects. Dopamine agonists have been linked with compulsive inappropriate behaviours such as gambling, compulsive shopping, hobbyism, other repetitive or purposeless behaviours such as punding, compulsive eating and hypersexuality. However pathological hypersexuality has rarely surfaced in routine Parkinson’s disease practice. We present clinical findings of a seventy-three year old male Parkinson’s disease patient with diagnosis of hypersexuality as a side effect of pramipexole. After pramipexole was withdrawn, dopamine agonist was changed to ropinirole and full remission was observed. Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease varies from 12 to 90%. Hypersexuality is a common impulse control disorder seen in Parkinson’s disease and noted in these patients taking a variety of dopaminergic agents; including levodopa, dopamine agonists or MAO inhibitors. In our patient, pramipexole caused hypersexuality unexpectedly. Since this case constitutes interesting findings in two different points, one is hypersexuality with pramipexole, the other is no hypersexuality with use of ropinirole after pramipexole withdrawal, it is chosen to be presented here.