In this episode of When Life Gives You Parkinson’s, what happens when the side effects of your medication are causing more harm than the disease itself? Many people with Parkinson’s are treated with dopamine agonists, which work perfectly for thousands of people, but can cause uncontrollable, destructive behaviors for others. Among the issues are compulsive shopping, hyper-sexuality, binge eating, internet addictions, and excessive gambling. Larry, Rebecca and Niki will introduce you to two people with Parkinson’s who experienced impulse control disorder while on agonists. One of them gained 60 pounds and the other went deep in debt, lost her inhibitions, her job and nearly everything else.

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Follow Co-host and Producer Niki Reitmeyer

Twitter: @Niki_Reitmayer

Thank you to the following people featured in this

Vicki Dillon – PwP, follow Vicki on Twitter and her website

Ken Robinson – Vicki’s Partner                                                                                                         

Susan O’Rourke – PwP, President of Artfront Galleries in Newark, NJ

Dr. Elana Clar – Neurologist, Movement Disorder Specialist, New Jersey Brain and Spine

Dave Andrews – PwP, Follow Dave on Twitter

Gil Thelon – PwP, Gil writes about Parkinson’s at www.shufflingeditor.com

Dr. Jonathon Squires – Neurologist, Movement Disorder Specialist at Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health

Special thanks to Niki Reitmayer for sharing her findings from her UBC Psych 301 Final: Impulse Control Disorders: The Strange Side Effect of Dopamine Agonists When Used to Treat Parkinson’s Disease.

CREDIT: Sex, Lies and Parkinson’s Documentary 2011, Channel 4 production. Directed by Oliver Cheetham, Produced by Oliver Cheetham and James Rogan

Diagnosed with Parkinson’s? You are not alone. Contact presenting partner Parkinson Canada http://www.parkinson.ca/, call toll free hotline 1-800-565-3000, on Twitter @ParkinsonCanada

Thanks also to our content and promotional partners

Parkinson’s IQ + You– A free, series of Parkinson’s events from the Michael J. Fox Foundation

Spotlight YOPD – The only Parkinson’s organization dedicated to raising awareness for Young Onset Parkinson’s disease and funds for the Cure Parkinson’s Trust. 

PD Avengers - We want to help end Parkinson’s disease. Join us.

World Parkinson Congress 2022 –Make plans to join us for #WPC2022 in Barcelona, Spain.

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