GSK knew drug caused sexual deviancy—and said nothing

Drug giant GSK has known for more than 20 years that one of its drugs causes sexual deviancy—and hasn’t come forward to defend victims who have gone to prison or faced restraining orders.

The drug, Requip (ropinirole), a dopamine agonist to treat restless leg syndrome (RLS) and Parkinson’s symptoms, can cause deviant sexual and impulsive behavior like high-stakes gambling.

Ropinirole can overstimulate dopamine, the ‘happy hormone’ that also regulates movement, and downgrades feelings of guilt or fear of consequences.  Up to 17 percent of people on the drug experience these sensations.

One, a Parkinson’s patient, was imprisoned after he sexually assaulted a seven-year-old girl, and another carried out “uncontrolled acts of exhibitionism and indecent behavior” after he started taking the drug.  These urges disappeared when he stopped taking it.

Four Parkinson’s patients launched a class action suit against GSK in 2011 after the drug led to gambling debts and broken relationships.

Although drug trials from the early 2000s revealed the risk of causing sexual deviancy, GSK didn’t mention it in any product literature until 2007 and, even then, the risk has been downplayed.  The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said that specific warnings about sexual behavior are not included in warnings, but there are several mentions in product literature of ‘altered or increased sexual interest’.

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