Parkinson's disease medication may cause severely altered mental states

A man, Didier Jambart, 51, from Nantes, France, plagued with symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, started taking a drug called Requip – generic name ropinirole. After this, he would sue the drugs’ manufacturing company, GlaxoSmithKline, and his neurologist, for symptoms which manifested after taking the drug.

Soon after taking ropinirole, the man noticed atypical changes in his behavior. He was drawn to gambling and unusual sexual urges such as having sex with homosexuals. His actions led him to being sexually abused and also being downgraded from his job.

Jambart blamed the drug for his predicament, claiming that the drug was faulty. Because of this, his lawyers have asked for a hefty sum of money from GlaxoSmithKline and his neurologist, whom he also blamed for not telling him the expected adverse reactions he could be experiencing from taking the medication.

The man claimed he had suffered psychologically because of the drug.

Use of the drug did not give a clear indication that it was related to the man’s odd behavior. The manufacturing company has, since then, placed a warning on the drugs’ information sheet about the possible occurrence of unusual urges which are not normally present in an individual taking it. The individual is then advised that if these unusual urges occur, he or she should immediately consult with his or her doctor.

No statement has been released from GlaxoSmithKline regarding this incident.