Parkinson's Drugs Trigger Compulsive Behavior

Drug packaging warns of possible hypersexuality, gambling problems

(NEWSER) - A French man is suing a drug firm for his addiction to sex and gambling, claiming a medication he was taking to control his Parkinson's disease triggered compulsive behavior. The claim isn't so far fetched. Experts say that dopamine agonists like that found in the drug Requip, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, can trigger compulsions in some patients, reports ABC News . The 51-year-old married dad of two said he blew through his life's saving to gamble, and engaged in a series of risky gay sexual encounters. More»

Brain chemistry changed in binge-eating rats

(NEWSER) - Junk food can be as addictive as cocaine and causes similar changes in the brain, according to a new study. Researchers found that rats given unlimited access to high-calorie food like candy bars and cheesecake not only became obese very quickly, they continued gorging even when they know doing so would lead to an electric shock. Obese rats who had their junk food replaced with a health diet stopped eating altogether, HealthDay reports. More»

Rapper talks about how he's never been in a better place

(NEWSER) - Where has Eminem been since his last album hit the shelves in 2004? At first, mostly drowning in a sea of depression and prescription drugs, the rapper says in an interview with the Guardian. But for a year now he's been clean and focused on getting back to his roots—which means drawing inspiration from serial killer films. More»

(NEWSER) - Eminem’s new album, Relapse, is as crude as you might expect, but his unflinching examination of his drug addiction has floored some critics. Overall, people love it or hate it.

• "The power of Relapse comes from Em aiming his beat-downs at his truest target, himself," Rob Sheffield writes in Rolling Stone. It's "a more painful, honest and vital record than anyone could have expected at this late date."
• "For anyone who carried a glimmer of hope that this talented if perverse MC had a great album in him," Greg Kot writes in the Chicago Tribune, "Relapse is a wake-up call."

(NEWSER) - Potential good news for Parkinson's patients: An experimental treatment on mice that involves implanting electrodes on the spinal cord had great success, Reuters reports. Mice that received the so-called stimulator were able to move more easily. Human trials are expected to start next year, and they could lead the way to a safer, cheaper, and more effective way to treat the debilitating symptoms of the disease. More»