Woman Claims Restless Legs Medication Led to Compulsive Behavior

Dorothy Moate has come forward with a personal account alleging that a medication prescribed to treat her restless legs syndrome (RLS) led to severe compulsive behaviors, including uncontrollable shopping and eating urges. Moate stated that her life was negatively impacted by the constant sensations associated with RLS, such as crawling, pulling, and tingling.

She was prescribed a drug, later identified as pramipexole, which she believed would alleviate her RLS symptoms. Moate reported that her general practitioner did not mention any potential side effects, leading her to believe the medication was safe. However, following her treatment, she began experiencing an insatiable compulsion to eat, which at times led her to start baking cakes at 2 a.m. Additionally, she developed an uncontrollable urge to shop, resulting in an overflowing wardrobe filled with new clothes and shoes she did not need.

Moate described her home as being festooned with piles of new clothes she acquired due to her compulsive behavior. She also noted accumulating over 50 pairs of shoes. She elaborated on the inability to stop herself from shopping online, leading to a continuous cycle of purchasing more clothing and footwear. This compulsive behavior, Moate claims, began after she started taking the medication intended to treat her restless legs syndrome, transforming her search for relief into a new form of distress. The Daily Mail reported on this account, highlighting Moate's experience with the medication.