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Indeed, sexual issues can be a difficult and embarrassing problem that may have repercussions in marital relations and in other situations. Not all of them need be attributed to the drugs, but certainly they may be seen as drug side effects. They can have several components or manifestations: 1) Increased libido - which in itself should not be a great problem - (as some of the wives in this list clearly indicated already.) 2) Decreased inhibition and inappropriate behavior - this could very well pose a problem 3) Compulsive or obsessive sexuality - this is a major problem - fortunately it is not very common. One approach to treating any of these aspects of the problem is to reduce the dose of medication. I have had patients who have responded to adding medications like anafranil or Paxil (which are used for obseessive compulsive disorder) when obsessive or compulsive features of the hyspersexuality seemed to be an issue. The disihibited aspects may reflect some degree of early dementia. Mild tranquilizers like mellaril or quetiapine have been helpful in this situation. In any case, they should be discussed freely with your physician, neurologist, or movement disorder expert. Jorge Romero, MD ----- Original Message ----- From: Greg and/or Diane Sterling <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2000 2:43 PM Subject: Re: psychological side-effects of medications Rick, I realize that your reply is probably a stab at humor, but the problem is real and a serious one. Greg 47/35/35 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rick Everett" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2000 2:27 PM Subject: Re: psychological side-effects of medications > "Hyper-sexuality" is one possible side effect of sinemet. Try chasing your > wife. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Rick Hermann <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Monday, June 05, 2000 7:07 PM > Subject: psychological side-effects of medications > > > > Hi all, > > > > I spoke recently with a TIAA/CREF retirement planning consultant at my > > workplace whose brother was diagnosed with MS about two years ago. He is > > taking the current standard medication for MS (the name of which I > > unfortunately don't remember). This came up when I told the consultant > that > > I had Parkinson's. I asked how badly off his brother was with MS. He > > responded that he was still mobile, and that the most difficult thing was > a > > psychological side-effect of the medication. "He can't behave maturely," > he > > said of his 35-year-old brother. "He's totally changed, like he's reverted > > emotionally to adolescence. He's become a girl-chaser." This caught my > > attention because I, a 49-year-old married PWP, started having "crushes" > on > > female co-workers and other female acquaintances not long after beginning > > my course of medications for PD 2.5 years ago. I take Sinemet CR and > > Requip. So could there be a connection? I've been reluctant to note this > as > > a potential side-effect with my neurologist, and don't know if it is. I'm > > also a midlife male, with that whole can of worms attached. Before I start > > sounding like a talk-show guest, let me just ask if anyone, male or > female, > > has any experience with, I guess, libido increase as a "side-effect" of > > Parkinson's medication. > > > > Rick >