Compulsive eating and weight gain related to dopamine agonist use.
Dopamine agonists have been implicated in causing compulsive behaviors in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). These have included gambling, hypersexuality, hobbyism, and other repetitive, purposeless behaviors ("punding"). In this report, we describe 7 patients in whom compulsive eating developed in the context of pramipexole use. All of the affected patients had significant, undesired weight gain; 4 had other comorbid compulsive behaviors. In the 5 patients who lowered the dose of pramipexole or discontinued dopamine agonist treatment, the behavior remitted and no further weight gain occurred. Physicians should be aware that compulsive eating resulting in significant weight gain may occur in PD as a side-effect of dopamine agonist medications such as pramipexole. Given the known risks of the associated weight gain and obesity, further investigation is warranted.
Nirenberg
Melissa J
MJ
Division of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10021, USA. mjnirenb@med.cornell.edu
Waters
Cheryl
C
D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
D018491:Dopamine Agonists