Rexulti Lawsuit: Compulsive Gambling & Shopping Side Effects The antipsychotic drug Rexulti is new on the market, but researchers are already worried about the medication’s ability to cause impulse-control disorders. Sadly, an addiction to gambling is not the only potential side-effect with an addiction to binge-eating, shopping, and even sex also listed. In a positive step, warnings on packs of antidepressants now state that there is a risk of developing a gambling addiction when taking the medication.
Generic Name:pramipexole
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 20, 2019.
- Side Effects
Note: This document contains side effect information about pramipexole. Some of the dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Mirapex.
In Summary
Common side effects of Mirapex include: drowsiness, visual hallucination, constipation, and insomnia. Other side effects include: xerostomia. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.
For the Consumer
Applies to pramipexole: oral tablet, oral tablet extended release
Along with its needed effects, pramipexole (the active ingredient contained in Mirapex) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking pramipexole:
More common
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting, especially when standing up suddenly from a sitting/lying position
- drowsiness
- hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there)
- trouble sleeping
- twitching, twisting, or other unusual body movements
- unusual tiredness or weakness
Less common
- Confusion
- cough
- difficulty with swallowing
- double vision or other changes in vision
- falling asleep without warning
- fearfulness, suspiciousness, or other mental changes
- fever
- muscle or joint pain
- muscle weakness
- restlessness or need to keep moving
- swelling of the body
- tightness in the chest
- troubled breathing
- writhing, twisting, or other unusual body movements
Rare
- Abnormal thinking
- bloody or cloudy urine
- chest pain
- difficult, burning, or painful urination
- dizziness
- frequent urge to urinate
- loss of bladder control
- swelling of the arms or legs
Some side effects of pramipexole may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- dryness of the mouth
- heartburn, indigestion, or acid stomach
Less common
- Abnormal dreams
- decreased sexual drive or ability
- general feeling of discomfort or illness
- increased cough
- increased sweating
- itching
- joint pain
- loss of appetite
- skin problems, such as rash or itching
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to pramipexole: oral tablet, oral tablet extended release
General
The most common adverse reactions occurring in early Parkinson's disease when used without levodopa were somnolence, insomnia, nausea, constipation, dizziness, fatigue, asthenia, hallucinations, dry mouth, muscle spasms, and peripheral edema. In advanced Parkinson's disease when used with levodopa, the more common adverse reactions included postural hypotension, dyskinesia, extrapyramidal syndrome, insomnia, abnormal dreams, confusion, asthenia, dystonia, somnolence, hypertonia, dry mouth, amnesia, urinary frequency, dizziness, nausea, constipation, hallucinations, headache, and anorexia.
The most common adverse reactions occurring in patients receiving treatment for Restless Legs Syndrome were nausea, somnolence, fatigue, and headache.[Ref]
Nervous system
Early Parkinson's disease:
Very common (10% or more): Somnolence (up to 36%), dizziness (up to 25%), dyskinesia (17%)
Common (1% to 10%): Headache, hypesthesia, dystonia, myoclonus, akathisia, tremor, balance disorder, amnesia, abnormal thinking
Frequency not reported: Restlessness
Advanced Parkinson's disease:
Compulsive Gambling Drug Side Effects
Very common (10% or more): Dyskinesia (up to 47%), extrapyramidal syndrome (28%), dizziness (up to 26%),
Common (1% to 10%): Somnolence, dystonia, gait abnormalities, hypertonia, headache
Restless Legs Syndrome:
Very common (10% or more): Augmentation (12%), headache (17%)
Common (1% to 10%): Worsening of Restless Legs Syndrome, somnolence
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dyskinesia
Postmarketing reports: Amnesia, hyperkinesia[Ref]
In a 26-week clinical trial, worsening of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) occurred in 10% of patients suddenly withdrawn from pramipexole 0.75 mg once a day compared to 2% of placebo patients; the RLS symptoms were generally considered mild. Augmentation was reported in 12% and 9% of patients receiving pramipexole 0.75 mg once a day and placebo, respectively. The incidence of augmentation increased with increasing duration of exposure.[Ref]
Psychiatric
Parkinson's disease:
Very common (10% or more): Hallucinations (17%), insomnia (27%), dream abnormalities (11%), confusion (10%)
Common (1% to 10%): Paranoid reaction, delusions, confusion, sleep attacks, sleep disorder, depression
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypersexuality, pathological gambling, delirium
Rare (less than 0.1%): Mania
Frequency not reported: Impulse control/compulsive behaviors
Postmarketing reports: New or worsening mental status and behavioral changes, binge eating, compulsive shopping
Restless Legs Syndrome:
Very common (10% or more): Insomnia (up to 13%)
Common (1% to 10%): Abnormal dreams
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypersexuality, pathological gambling, delirium
Rare (less than 0.1%): Mania
Frequency not reported: Impulse control/compulsive behaviors
Postmarketing reports: New or worsening mental status and behavioral changes, binge eating, compulsive shopping[Ref]
Gastrointestinal
Very common (10% or more): Nausea (28%), constipation (14%)
Common (1% to 10%): Dysphagia, dry mouth, diarrhea, dyspepsia, vomiting, upper abdominal pain, abdominal discomfort, salivary hypersecretion
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hiccup
Frequency not reported: Hyperphagia
Postmarketing reports: Peritoneal fibrosis[Ref]
Nausea and vomiting were commonly reported early in therapy and resolved with continued therapy. While there have been postmarketing reports of fibrotic complications including peritoneal fibrosis, pleural fibrosis, and pulmonary fibrosis, the evidence is not sufficient to establish a causal relationship with use of this drug; however a contribution of treatment cannot be completely ruled out.[Ref]
Cardiovascular
Very common (10% or more): Postural hypotension (up to 53%)
Common (1% to 10%): Chest pain, general edema
Postmarketing reports: Cardia failure, syncope[Ref]
Cardiovascular side effects have included orthostatic hypotension, with or without symptoms, although the overall incidence was not significantly different from that in placebo-treated patients. In advanced Parkinson's disease trials, postural hypotension was reported in 53% (n=260) of patients receiving immediate-release pramipexole compared with 48% (n=264) of patients receiving placebo. In fixed-dose trials in early Parkinson's disease, orthostatic hypotension was shown to be dose related with a frequency 2-fold greater than placebo for doses greater than 1.5 mg/day. Among patients with advanced Parkinson's disease treated concomitantly with levodopa, orthostatic hypotension was reported much more frequently than in those with early disease and not receiving levodopa.
In a pharmacoepidemiology study, pramipexole use was associated with an increased risk of cardiac failure compared with non-use (observed risk ratio: 1.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.21 to 2.85).[Ref]
Genitourinary
Common (1% to 10%): Urinary frequency, urinary tract infection, urinary incontinence, impotence[Ref]
Musculoskeletal
One case of rhabdomyolysis occurred in a 49- year old male patient with advanced Parkinson's disease receiving pramipexole (the active ingredient contained in Mirapex) His creatinine phosphokinase level was elevated to 10,631 IU/L. His symptoms resolved with discontinuation of the medication.[Ref]
Common (1% to 10%): Arthritis, twitching, bursitis, myasthenia, extremity pain, back pain, muscle spasms, increased creatine phosphokinase
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Rhabdomyolysis
Postmarketing reports: Postural deformity[Ref]
Ocular
Common (1% to 10%): Vision abnormalities, accommodation abnormalities, diplopia,
Frequency not reported: Blurred vision[Ref]
Dermatologic
Common (1% to 10%): Skin disorders
Frequency not reported: Pruritus
Postmarketing reports: Skin reactions (including erythema, rash, pruritus, urticaria)[Ref]
Respiratory
Common (1% to 10%): Dyspnea, rhinitis, pneumonia, nasal congestion, cough
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pneumonia
Postmarketing reports: Pleural fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis[Ref]
There have been postmarketing reports of fibrotic complications including peritoneal fibrosis, pleural fibrosis, and pulmonary fibrosis, the evidence is not sufficient to establish a causal relationship with use of this drug; however a contribution of treatment cannot be completely ruled out.[Ref]
Metabolic
Common (1% to 10%): Decreased weight, increased appetite, anorexia
Postmarketing reports: Increased weight[Ref]
Other
Very common (10% or more): Asthenia (up to 14%)
Common (1% to 10%): Malaise, fever, vertigo[Ref]
Endocrine
Frequency not reported: Libido disorders
Postmarketing reports: Inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH)[Ref]
Hypersensitivity
Frequency not reported: Rash and other hypersensitivity reactions[Ref]
Immunologic
Common (1% to 10%): Influenza[Ref]
References
1. Cerner Multum, Inc. 'Australian Product Information.' O 0
2. Cerner Multum, Inc. 'UK Summary of Product Characteristics.' O 0
3. 'Product Information. Mirapex (pramipexole).' Boehringer Ingelheim, Ridgefield, CT.
4. 'Product Information. Mirapex ER (pramipexole).' Boehringer Ingelheim, Ridgefield, CT.
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.
More about Mirapex (pramipexole)
- During Pregnancy or Breastfeeding
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