Another scandal is rocking the pharmaceutical industry, as a widely prescribed class of drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease and restless leg syndrome is reportedly pushing patients into extreme and dangerous sexual behavior. The drugs, known as dopamine agonists, have been linked to uncontrollable impulses, including hypersexuality, addiction, and even pedophilia—yet drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) allegedly knew about these risks for over two decades.
According to reports reviewed by the BBC, GSK had documented cases of “deviant” sexual behavior as early as 2003, yet patients claim they were never properly warned about these shocking side effects. Instead, they were left to struggle with overwhelming urges that destroyed their lives.
Dopamine agonists mimic the brain’s pleasure chemical, dopamine, which controls movement and rewards. However, these drugs don’t just help with motor control—they supercharge pleasure while shutting down the brain’s ability to recognize consequences. The result? Many patients are left battling severe impulse control disorders, engaging in reckless sexual activity, compulsive spending, and other self-destructive behaviors. Studies show that between 13% and 24% of Parkinson’s patients on dopamine agonists develop these impulse disorders—an alarming rate that raises serious concerns about Big Pharma’s negligence.
The BBC report highlights disturbing cases, including one in which a 63-year-old man who had been prescribed Ropinirole for Parkinson’s disease sexually assaulted a 7-year-old girl. The report revealed that his increased libido coincided with his medication use, and the problem disappeared when his dose was lowered.
Meanwhile, at least 20 women who were prescribed dopamine agonists for restless leg syndrome described how the drugs shattered their lives. Many reported becoming hypersexual, developing dangerous addictions, and engaging in behavior they would have never considered before taking the medication.
One woman, Claire, recalled how she would leave her house in the middle of the night searching for sexual encounters—despite having a partner. She even began flashing random men in public, wearing revealing outfits, all while feeling powerless to stop herself. It took years before she connected her behavior to the medication, and when she stopped taking it, the urges disappeared almost immediately. Now, she is left with shame and regret.
Another patient, Sarah, said she went from having a normal sex drive to full-blown addiction after taking the drug in her 50s. She began selling explicit videos, engaging in phone sex with strangers, and compulsively shopping—accumulating a staggering $30,000 in debt. To cope, she turned to opioids and sleeping pills, which only worsened her downward spiral, ultimately costing her job and driver’s license.
Despite mounting evidence of these disturbing side effects, GSK has denied responsibility. While the company settled a 2011 class-action lawsuit filed by Parkinson’s patients who claimed the drug destroyed their lives, it continues to insist that Ropinirole has a “characterized safety profile” and that the risks are listed in prescribing information.
This latest scandal raises a serious question: why does Big Pharma keep getting away with putting profits over people? Patients trusted their doctors and these companies to provide safe treatment, but instead, they were left to suffer life-altering consequences. It’s another glaring example of how the pharmaceutical industry, shielded by regulatory agencies and political influence, continues to operate with little accountability.
Americans should be asking: how many more people have to suffer before these companies are truly held responsible?
